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Where does the money come from to pay for Social Security?
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Social Security is funded by a combination of payroll taxes and investment income. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the money to pay benefits to retirees, disabled workers, and survivors of deceased workers. The payroll taxes are collected by the federal government and then distributed to the states, which administer the program. The SSA uses the investment income to pay benefits and make interest payments to the trust fund. The trust fund is made up of money that has been paid into the fund by workers and employers.