[Copernicus]

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The surplus is those contributions made in the past, that were not distributed as ssi benefits, and "loaned" to the general fund, plus the interest those surpluses have earned.

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This doesn't make sense. "Surplus" is assets greater than those needed to meet obligations. If I owe you $1,000 tomorrow, and I set aside $10 in my bank account today, I don't have $10 of "surplus", I have a $9,990 deficit.

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First, be careful using "SSI", that is not Social Security it is a different program and has never run a surplus.

Re the surplus I think there is just confusion about the accumulated surplus (a prior cash flow calculation which is clearly positive) and an actuarial surplus (deficit) which takes into account future anticipated benefits vs future contributions plus current trust fund balance (which is a surplus under some assumptions and a deficit under others).