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Fiendish Thingy

(23,563 posts)

4. SS is not a Ponzi scheme, and your math is off

Wed Apr 22, 2026, 04:25 PM

Wednesday

Ponzi schemes are dependent on the voluntary contributions of the lower tiers of the pyramid to support the upper tiers.

SS, with just a few exceptions, is funded by mandatory contributions from both employees and employers.

But just for clarity over most of my lifetime that would have meant 20% of my income as savings (10% independent, and 10%+ of SS)

Except you didn’t contribute 10% of you’re income, it was only 6.2% (for an apples to apples comparison, you can’t include your employers contribution).

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Where did the rest of the Social Security fund go? [View all] dickthegrouch Wednesday OP

Your contributions funded benefits for those who were retired while you were still working Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #1

Thank you for your answer dickthegrouch Wednesday #2

It's not an investment fund. It is a social safety net. Gore1FL Wednesday #3

SS is not a Ponzi scheme, and your math is off Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #4

Why not? They included it in every compensation analysis they ever gave me dickthegrouch Wednesday #7

You are comparing SS contributions to a self funded annuity Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #8

I think what I was trying to suggest dickthegrouch Wednesday #12

It's an annuity that is protected from the gyrations of the markets Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #13

It Is NOT A Ponzi Scheme ProfessorGAC Wednesday #10

"SS was never designed to be one's sole source of income in retirement" Smokster Wednesday #6

+1 leftstreet Wednesday #9

Republicans Rebl2 Wednesday #5

Democrats also used it. Igel Wednesday #14

Remove the cap. multigraincracker Wednesday #11