Social Security is INSURANCE, not private property.

Over the decades since its inception millions of people never collected a cent of Social Security (SS) because they died before they needed benefits. Others collected less than they paid in because they died before their benefits equalled their contributions.

On the other hand many collect disability payments without having ever contributed to SS.

Finally there are those who live very long lives who collect far moe than they paid in.

SOCIAL SECURITY IS AN INSURANCE POLICY, and as such has been very successful.

Efforts are under way to convert it to a personal savings account. These efforts are directed toward benefitting the wealthy. When a poor person contributes to a personal savings account his contribution will be small and its growth minimal because of transaction costs. Those costs are a small percentage of larger investments and allow much greater growth.

Leave social security alone, but increase the cap and put a means test on receiving benefits just as there is a test on any other kind of insurance. That will solve the problems for perhaps a few more decades.