Why Are Some Safety Net Programs Referred to as Entitlements

Why are some safety net programs referred to as entitlements?

A) because benefits are distributed automatically to citizens who qualify, based on a set of guidelines
B) because they are benefits available only to the working poor in the United States
C) because they are benefits funded through the Title 9 section of the 1965 Civil Rights Act
D) because they are benefits that are distributed on a case-by-case basis to select citizens in extreme need
E) because they are benefits that one earns by working, and thus the person is entitled to them