The years 2008 and 2009 have been important years in age discrimination claims. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) 2009 has seen a significantly higher number of claims than in most other years. Since December of 2007, the country has seen a significantly higher number of layoffs, due to the declining economy. And, it seems, many workers feel that workers over the age of 40 have borne more than their fair share of these layoffs. Employers may be tempted to lay off older workers first, since they often receive higher wages, due to their tenure and experience or because these workers are closer to retirement anyway. However under the ADEA, this practice is illegal, and workers who have been laid off due to age may be eligible to receive job reinstatement, back pay and sometimes monetary damages. Of course, in the midst of so many layoffs, age discrimination may be more difficult to prove, since so many workers of every age have lost their jobs.