So my Republican Dad says, "Half the country is on some government entitlement program...."

[Nikia]

59. But some people who do get "benefits" have paid in taxes or will in the future

Those who complain about "benefits" probably know someone like that who has been down on their luck after losing their job or spouse or developing some kind of disability or other problem out of their control. Whether or not this person thinks that the majority of people receiving benefits deserves them, if benefits are cut, their "deserving" friend or family member loses them too. Sometimes, the ability to get "benefits" will allow someone to get back on their feet faster or at all than if they were unable to get them.
I know that there are people that still believe that the "deserving" unfortunate people can be served through charities, but in many cases today, whole communities are down. There are more people that need "help" and those who could have helped them in the past are struggling to provide for themselves. The rich either don't care or are off living somewhere else where they don't have to associate with poor people, like they did if they owned a company in a small to midsized community.