Neither the Social Security Administration nor the Supreme Court regards your FICA payments as giving you “an entitlement” to any benefit. Congress may change the terms of funds disbursement in any way at any time.
Flemming v. Nestor decided this in 1960: there is no contract. You may think the government morally “owes you” for what “you put into the system,” but it legally owes you nothing.
The only thing in your favor: politics.
THIS IS YOUR GOVERNMENT.
Obey it; honor it — whatever . . .
but it is not principled.
TRUST IT AT YOUR PERIL!
Wirkman Comment 