[Victoria_R]

But you would be surprised the the number of people Freepers who don’t know how all of this works and think they have “paid” into the system

I used to work for the IRS. The auditors check employee paychecks to verify that Social Security and Medicare is withheld from employee paychecks and sent to the government. This amount is also subject to income taxes before being deducted from the employees' wages. Also, this amount is matched by the employer but not noted on employees' paychecks.

I (and my employers) put approximately $700,000 into the system and, in addition, I paid income taxes on my half. At the rate the government reimburses me, it would take about 30 years for me to get it back.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

I consider what I pay in SS and Medicare as a tax. Yes, I pay a tax, but none of what I’ve paid in is “mine” in any meaningful way. Sorry for the misunderstanding.