Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern‚ said:

"Many older people tell us they are keen to get back to work‚ so we support action to improve employment opportunities for people over 50.

"In a recession‚ the Government must be realistic about whether jobs are available. It must also start providing the right kind of support for older people to return to employment before sanctions to withdraw benefits are introduced.

"These proposals must go hand in hand with a strategy to keep people over 50 in work in the first place‚ as previous experience shows that they are likely to bear the brunt of job cuts in a recession. 

"Government should also change outdated legislation allowing employers to compel workers to retire at 65‚ costing thousands of good workers their jobs and acting as a disincentive to employers hiring people in their 50s.

"Planned changes to housing benefit must take into consideration the needs to older people looking for work and the poorest pensioners who often rely on this payment."