It has to be understood, however, that, in a system of social benefits, there are, on the one hand, what are termed legal benefits, having to do with retirement and sickness and, on the other hand, benefits of another type, termed non-contributory and referred to in France as optional benefits.
Mais il faut bien comprendre que, dans un système de prestations sociales, il y a, d’une part, les prestations dites légales qui relèvent de la retraite, de la maladie et, d’autre part, un autre type de prestations dites à caractère non contributif, qualifiées en France de prestations à caractère facultatif.