Legal Definitions - entitlement

Entitlement refers to a legal right to receive a specific benefit, often financial, that is automatically granted to an individual once they fulfill certain predefined legal criteria. Unlike a discretionary grant or a privilege, an entitlement cannot be denied if the qualifying conditions are met.

• Example 1: Veterans' Healthcare Benefits

  A military veteran who served honorably for a specified period, as defined by law, has an entitlement to healthcare services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Once they meet the legal requirements for service duration and discharge status, they possess an absolute right to access these medical benefits.

  How it illustrates the term: The veteran doesn't need to apply and hope for approval; their service record automatically establishes a legal right to VA healthcare. The government cannot arbitrarily deny these services if the eligibility criteria are satisfied.

• Example 2: Company Pension Plan

  An employee who has worked for a company for 30 years and consistently contributed to its defined-benefit pension plan has an entitlement to receive monthly pension payments upon retirement. The terms of their employment contract and the pension plan legally obligate the company to provide these benefits.

  How it illustrates the term: The employee's long service and contributions create a vested, absolute right to the pension. The company cannot decide to withhold the pension if the employee has met all the plan's requirements for eligibility and vesting.

• Example 3: State Workers' Compensation Benefits

  A worker who suffers a qualifying injury or illness directly related to their employment, as defined by state workers' compensation laws, has an entitlement to medical treatment and wage replacement benefits. These laws establish a no-fault system where the right to benefits is triggered by the work-related injury itself.

  How it illustrates the term: Once the injury is determined to be work-related and meets the state's criteria, the worker has a legal right to receive the specified benefits. The employer or insurer cannot refuse payment if the legal requirements for a compensable injury are met.