If the Social Security fund had remained an actual fund and not money the congress viewed as something they could just spend any way they wanted SS would be in great shape.  It all started with raiding all that SS money for other uses leaving the "fund" to be filled by current employees rather than accumulated savings.  I would happily accept my SS fund payments back with an annual componded interest rate of 6% starting with my first contribution and be done with it but the fund doesn't exist any longer so the money is just vaporware.