A recent study of the Tea Party [1] found that most grassroots members didn't oppose benefits (SS, Medicare, etc.) to people like themselves, just to "freeloaders" like young or poor people:

"Older, middle-class Tea Partiers mostly approve of Social Security, Medicare, and generous benefits for military veterans. Their opposition to “big government” entails reluctance to pay taxes to help people viewed as undeserving “freeloaders” – including immigrants, lower income earners, and the young." [2]

[1] http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/01/tea-party-passions [2] understandingtheteaparty.com/Book