SS tax is capped. It changes through time and rises.
The cap used to be around $120,000.
And 30 years ago it was way less.
Today it is $142,800 at 6.2 %.
Depending upon your age, you may have paid into SS for 30-40 years,
Probably at an average of less than wages of $70,000 per year over those years.
Unless you made more than 70K 30 years ago. Maybe you did.
Meaning your contribution was about $4,000 per year average, for 30-40 years, meaning $120k-$160K in your working lifetime. You can find that on your Statement.
Mine says $139,000.
If you draw at 62, you might get $2,000 per month, meaning it will take you about 70 months to get your contributions back. (I understand interest dude, so don't go there.)
So, while not a perfect system, if
Flash lives 10+ years beyond retirement, he will get his contributions back. And if he dies, there are survivor benefits.
Now, besides interest arguments and "i could have invested more successfully on my own, SS is NOT a Ponzi Scheme.