There’s another side to that:
A friend who is in her late 50s, developed a serious autoimmune condition (actually a cluster of them), in her late teens. She underwent 17 different surgeries, needs all vitamins or meds injected since she cannot take oral medication. Her cohort was not automatically enrolled in SS, but her age meant she could be enrolled under her parents’ accounts. Because of that, she gets SSDI that *helps* with her medical needs, which can easily run to $30k/year with no catastrophic incidents (& does not cover any medical equipment or supplies not used in a hospital setting). Her grant is small if the totally covered hospitalization isn’t counted and is only for months when she can’t work. She is not a taker and is a religious conservative.
In reality, she had to choose between food stamps and medical assistance. She works as she can and provides for herself as she can. Raised 3 great kids, who also help her out as they can. Great, tight family.
Being enrolled means rights as well as obligations. Just luck that anyone doesn’t need to draw at any given time. You never know what can happen or when.
I’m 77. I’ve paid from age 15 to this year, when I finally retired. I was self-employed for well over 40 years. I paid double and get very little. It isn’t a generous program, but it’s a backstop if the worst happens.
I am retired and choosing to wait until age 70 to collect—but right now I would take a check for all the “Social Security taxes” I paid and my employer paid—with accrued interest of course—in one lump sum—and call it good.
There is no way .gov would take me up on that offer.
Neither story doesn’t change a single thing i said.
Your own personal story actually affirms its a ponzi scheme.