A new survey from Mass.-based Sun Life Financial Inc. reveals almost half of American workers, if offered the choice, would prefer to stop paying into the Social Security system, even if it meant they would not receive these benefits once eligible.

The survey found 48 percent of all respondents would rather not pay into Social Security.

Workers in their 30s are most likely to favor not paying into the Social Security system, with 59 percent responding they would rather not pay the taxes and not receive benefits. 51 percent of workers age 40-49 prefer to not participate. 44 percent of workers age 50 to 59 prefer to not participate in the Social Security program, and 39 percent of workers 50 and older would rather not participate.

Almost half (47 percent) of Americans with a household income of less than $25,000 would choose to opt out of the system, and 48 percent of those making between $25,000 and $50,000 a year would as well. Slightly more than half (52 percent) of Americans making over $125,000 a year would choose to stop paying Social Security taxes and not receive the benefit.

"As American workers approach the traditional retirement age, they increasingly begin to see the value of some component of guaranteed income, whether or not they plan to keep working," said Wes Thompson, President of Sun Life Financial U.S. "While the drop in the overall Unretirement Index number reflects a decrease in confidence in Social Security, future Index findings will determine the long-term effects of the current economy on American expectations of retirement."