The problem is, they view their contributions to SS over the years as “their” money, which in a reasonable society would be true.
But the best test in determining whether our government views the money as “ours” is this one:
If you were to die at age 64 (or 61 as the case may be) before you became eligible for SS benefits, with no surviving spouse or minor children, where would all “your” money go? To your estate?
Yep bupkis! The government wins the you didn’t live long enough lottery.