You can do the math yourself. Assume an approximate payout of about $700 per month (the maximum is somewhere around $1200 per month), multiply by 12, then multiply again by the number of years collected. Then, compare that with what they paid into the system based upon the average annual wage back in, say, 1960, or 1970. It's likely that most of them never even paid into the system a thousand bucks a year.
Taking inflation into account, [10K a year in the '60s was equivalent to 100K today - or more], plus interest, - I will have to live to 80+ [odds are, I won't], -- for a breakeven payback.
-- Assuming of course, that inflation doesn't continue.
- And playing games with hidden inflation, imo, will be the way the feds get us out of this ponzi scheme mess.