The latest published figures only cover the period from April 2008 and March 2009. The number of age discrimination claims accepted by the Employment Tribunal Service went up by nearly 29% on the previous year to 3,801.

Of the 2,472 age discrimination claims disposed of during the year, 32% were withdrawn, 40% were settled by Acas and 10% were struck out before they came to a hearing.

Of the claims that did then go before a Tribunal, just 2% of the age claims that had originally been accepted, amounting to 53 in total, were successful. A further 5% having been dismissed at a preliminary hearing, 10% were unsuccessful at hearing and in 1% of cases a default judgement was given.

The maximum compensation awarded in an age discrimination case was £90,031, while the median award in age cases was just £3,000 and the average award worked out at £8,869.

(November 2009)