Dang Postie, first off, what normal working stiff only works for 20 years and then retires with SSI? Even so, if you only pay in $120,000 ... it doesn't equate to $120,000 "invested". That's $120,000 plus interest. We have no control over how the government invests that money, so we have no control over the interest either. I think I'd be able to invest it for a greater return IMHO ... but I'm not given that choice.

Now, what do you think of my grandfather's situation? He paid into SSI and planned to retire at 65 years old. He died of a massive heart attack 6 months before his 65th birthday and collected nothing. Where did THAT money go? (I know where it went, it's just another variable) People die prematurely every day, so not EVERYBODY pulls out more than they put in.