Doug,

There's absolutely no doubt that, by virtue of having properly "played the game" of having paid what was required throughout your employed years, that you are due your SS check. That is the "contract" under which you entered the program, you played by the rules, and the US gov't owes you what they promised.

Having said that though, do you really think there was a direct correlation between your contributions and what you recieve on a monthly basis? Do you really think they are drawing your check from a What-DougR-Paid-In account?