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entitlement

government assistance
Written and fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Social Security Act
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U.S. Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Social Security Act, August 14, 1935.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

entitlement, generally, any government-provided or government-managed benefit or service to which some or all individuals are entitled by law. The term is also but less frequently applied to benefits provided by employers to employees unilaterally or as mandated by law or by contract (see fringe benefit). Among government-provided or government-managed entitlements in the United States, some have been means-tested (Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children [AFDC], and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps), while others have been available to most or all people independent of means (social security and Medicare). Legally mandated employer-provided benefits have included workers’ compensation and unpaid leave for family and medical reasons. With passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA) in 1996, most needs-based assistance programs, including AFDC, were replaced by state-controlled systems funded by federal block grants. (See also social insurance; welfare.)

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.