What are entitlements in terms of why our national debt is so high?

Question

entitlements = what ?

Definition of this word?

Answer 1

Entitlements are things that by law you are entitled to such as  Social Security. You pay into it your whole life and when you reach the statutory age you are entitled to receive payments in accordance with law. Medicare is another.

They were 43.5% of the budget in 2008 down 2.5% from the year before. The biggest problem is that the cost of medical care goes up so fast.

Answer 2

Entitlements are those payments that the government has agreed to make to persons or groups for some reason in the past and they don't end because now the people are "entitled".