The thing is FICA is designed as an insurance program against old age poverty. The I in FICA stands for Insurance. Your FICA contribution is a premium, not a savings deposit. The reasoning is of you make over a certain amount of money, you don't need the insurance and need not pay more premiums that year. On the receiving end, there is an income-based cap to your social security benefits. However, there are people whose retirement income should prelude them from receiving social security benefits, similar to no one expects a return of the car or homeowners insurance premiums they paid over the years.