I think that the meaning of "entitlement" has evolved quite quickly over the last few years. In the original sense of the word, "entitled" meant that a person had earned the benefits.

Then came the use of the term "sense of entitlement," meaning that somebody acts like he or she were entitled to something that was NOT earned.

And I think because of that "sense of entitlement" phrase, people (prodded by propagandists) began to understand "entitlements" as NOT earned.

-Joe-