Entitlement programs are government programs, funded federally or jointly with states, that guarantee payments or services to all individuals in the US who meet eligibility rules set by law. Once qualified, people are legally entitled to receive the promised benefits.

Funding for most entitlement programs is mandatory, meaning the federal budget automatically includes the funds needed to cover all eligible claims — they’re not subject to the annual spending limits set in the budget appropriations process. The funding comes from a range of sources:

• Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and some other programs are financed by general funds of the US Treasury.
• Social Security and Medicare are financed through dedicated trust funds that get their money from payroll taxes and, in Medicare’s case, insurance premiums and general revenues.

Some veterans' benefits and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are appropriated entitlements, meaning their eligibility rules are mandatory, but Congress must still pass appropriations to finance them.

Social Security is considered an entitlement program because once a taxpayer meets the eligibility conditions, they’re legally entitled to benefits.

Eligibility criteria for Social Security benefits include having earned enough work credits via payroll taxes, being of eligible age, or having a qualifying disability.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria established by law benefit from entitlement programs. This could include retirees, persons with disabilities, low-income families, and other qualifying groups.