More than nine in 10 UK adults over 66 view the State Pension as an entitlement, despite only half (58%) believing it is affordable for the country, according to a new report.

Just 4% told Just Group that they viewed the State Pension as a 'benefit' even though this is exactly what it is.

One in five (18%) of the pensioners surveyed said they believed the State Pension was not affordable for the country over the long-term.

Retirees defended the Triple Lock mechanism with two thirds (64%) stating that the Triple Lock was fair to older generations.

However, those surveyed recognised that the Triple Lock may not be fair to younger generations. Just 16% thought it fair to younger generations and 18% said the Triple Lock was not fair to any generation.

It is perhaps not surprising those over the State Pension age defended its future, with one in seven of those surveyed relying on it to provide over 90% of their retirement income.

Close to half (44%) said the State Pension represented more than half of their household income.

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “The State Pension Age review is due in the next 18 months and it appears that if the Government wants to avoid increasing taxes or means-testing the State Pension then it may have to look at options either to increase the age at which people receive the State Pension or to moderate the amount paid.

“Neither of these are political vote winners – and as we have seen with the winter fuel and disability payments, once a benefit is introduced it becomes extremely difficult to reduce or withdraw that support. If the government does bring in changes to the State Pension – either to the amount or the age at which it is paid – then it makes sense for people who are not yet receiving it to build up some resilience against those changes.”

• Opinium surveyed 2,000 UK adults over the age of 66 on behalf of Just Group between 16 and 25 April.