Government benefits people qualify for by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.
They're called entitlements because anyone who qualifies gets the benefit automatically, without Congress voting on it each year. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are the biggest, and together they make up a large share of federal spending.
"Changing entitlements is hard because millions of people count on them."
Filed under money and the economy in the glossary, with every word used on How I Lean.
Nine questions, about three minutes, and you'll see where you lean.