Fallen on hard times

Spoonie_Turtle

I can see the opposite though as well, people use the word 'entitled' to mean people who expect to have things they don't have any right to, ironically wanting things they're not entitled to - e.g. customers throwing tantrums to get freebies or force what they want despite it being against company policy.

I can also see the implication of 'eligible for' being softer, optional; and 'entitled to' implying it's a right, helping people see it as something they should receive.  

Interesting.