You would think the world is ending

[Like2Plan]

Is there linkage between how much an individual & their employer contributed and how much the individual collects in benefits?

Yes. There is a worksheet found here: Link to SS benefits
The following is based on receiving the full benefit. Basically, you have to figure out your highest paid 35 years indexed to today's dollars and add them up. There is a maximum upon which you can be taxed each year, so this is addressed on the worksheet as you only receive benefits based on the amount you were actually taxed.

You divide your high 35 years by 420 to get an average monthly amount. From that
you receive:
1. 90% of the first $767 plus
2. 32% of the amount that is over $767 and less than or equal to $4624 plus
3. 15% of the amount over $4624 up to the maximum.

[Like2Plan]

Here is another link: 2012 Social Security Facts and Figures

SS went through and ran the calculation based on an individual maxing out SS for the last 35 years and receiving the full benefit and the maximum benefit for 2012 was $2,513/mo

[Like2Plan]

I think the SS benefits are a lot lower than most people realize.

A few years ago SS started sending out Social Security Statements Link to my Social Security online so that folks would have an idea.

But, even if you are one of the folks who expects to receive the full promised SS benefit, you can see that the benefit will not come anywhere close to the 75%-100% of income you need to have for your retirement (unless you are in the lowest bracket)