IT isn’t too much to expect.

Having worked hard all their lives the more mature members of our society expect to retire in some degree of comfort.

Yet, a report estimates, more than a million pensioners are relying on cash handouts from friends and family to get by.

Eleven per cent of pensioners are reliant, to some degree, on the extra support - and those approaching retirement are even more likely to be in this situation - according to the State of Retirement report from LV=.

Some 27 per cent of people set to retire within the next 10 years said they sometimes depended on family and friends for help.

The report, which drew on a survey of more than 1,500 over 50s said that based on the UK pensioner population, just over one million pensioners need help from friends and relatives.

The report also found that 24 per cent of pensioners worry their cash will not stretch throughout their retirement.

In 2015, new pension freedoms were launched giving the over-55s more choice over how they use their retirement pots.

John Perks, managing director of retirement solutions at LV=, says: “A significant minority of pensioners rely on loved ones to help them financially during retirement, and those approaching retirement seem to be in an even worse situation.

“Given the increasingly complex choices consumers have to face about their pensions and, with the economic impact of leaving the European Union still unknown, we believe it’s never been more important consumers have access to professional advice at retirement.”

A Department for Work and Pensions DWP spokesman said the “triple lock” policy, which guarantees the state pension is uprated by a certain amount, helps to protect people’s incomes in later life.

“People can also apply for Pension Credit, which tops up their other income and provides additional security in retirement.

“People over 50 with a defined contribution pension can get free and impartial guidance from our Pension Wise service.”

Natasha Thomas, chief officer of HALE, a healthy living initiative for Shipley and Bradford which also runs a befriending scheme, says: “We know significant numbers of older people that we support are struggling.”

She talks of various reasons for their financial situation, including working in jobs which didn’t offer decent pensions and having a low wage which didn’t allow them to save.

Dot Gibson, National Pensioners Convention general secretary said: “Despite what some people might think, not all older people are going on cruises and playing golf.

“Millions are actually struggling to get by and pay their food and fuel bills. The UK’s state pension remains one of the least adequate in the developed world, and around 1.8m older people are officially living in poverty.

“One thing people need to bear in mind is that if you were poor during your working life, you will most certainly be poor in retirement. We need to do much more to support both the pensioners of today and tomorrow as well.”

A spokesman for Age UK Bradford and District says while relative pensioner poverty has fallen over the last 20 years and is now close to a historic low, there are still 1.6 million pensioners living in poverty - 900,000 of those are in severe poverty.

Retired accountant, David Wheeler, from Bradford, believes pensioners in the North may be better off than those in the South due to the high cost of living down South.

David says he doesn’t get the feeling among his network that pensioners are struggling, but many of his generation were brought up to save up for something until they could afford it.

“Nobody seems to be really struggling. Some people are careful with their money but nobody says ‘I cannot manage,’” says David.

And Pam James, chairman of Open House for Seniors which runs a weekly drop-in session in Bradford for older people, suggests it could be a generation issue.

“To be honest I was brought up to save. It didn’t matter how little money I had, I always had to save and don’t live beyond your means.

“It is very individual how people lived when they were younger. Some of us have saved so we can enjoy our retirement.”