You're Using "Entitlement" Wrong

by Jennifer Della'Zanna

If you paid into it, you deserve it.

I’m sure you’ve seen this or similar memes on social media, or even whole articles about this topic. “Entitlement” is one of those words we use in our everyday conversations in a different way than the US government uses it—and that’s not all that unusual. However, it does create misunderstanding.

In government language, an entitlement is something given to a citizen because they have satisfied all the requirements to get it. This can mean that they’ve contributed money that is then paid out at a later date, such as Social Security. It can also mean that they don’t make enough money to afford the basics that allow them to live in our society, which is how people are entitled to receive Medicaid or other welfare program benefits. People who meet the requirements of a government program are entitled to receive the benefits outlined in that program. Very simple. So, you see, Social Security is an entitlement. If you paid into it, you have met the requirements to receive it at retirement age. There are other people who are also entitled to Social Security because they have specific disabilities or illnesses—they are equally entitled to benefits as outlined by the program.

 ...an entitlement is something given to a citizen because they have satisfied all the requirements to get it

The problem with how we think of that word has been a subtle shift in the way we use it when we refer to people who believe they are entitled to benefits that we sometimes don’t think they are. This word is often used in a statement such as, “Young people today are so entitled.”

Well, it’s not that they’re entitled—it’s that we perceive them as believing they’re entitled when we don’t think they are. It’s another way of accusing somebody of expecting something they don’t deserve. Or being lazy. And young people usually are the brunt of the attacks in every generation.

The problem with how we think of that word has been a subtle shift in the way we use it when we refer to people who believe they are entitled to benefits that we sometimes don’t think they are.

The problem came about because the phrase has changed in a subtle way. It used to be something like, “Young people act so entitled.” Now it’s just “Young people are so entitled.” That small word change has had the effect of making the word “entitled” go from having a neutral connotation to a negative one.

So, yes, Social Security is an entitlement. If you paid into it, you deserve it. And yes, welfare is an entitlement for people who don’t make enough money to survive. And one entitlement isn’t more deserved than the other. And young people generally don’t feel any more entitled than you did at their age, so maybe give them a break in this world that is very heavy right now.

...one entitlement isn’t more deserved than the other.

Now, the billionaires running the government right now? They’re eliminating, and sometimes raking in, other people’s entitlements, and to them, I say, “Get off my lawn.”

Jennifer Della’Zanna (www.jen-dellazanna.com) is a writer and editor who has published more than fifty feature articles for magazines and websites on topics as diverse as politics, movies, and healthcare.