What does "aged men & merit" mean?

[Milliepede]

I'm looking at a census record for Birmingham workhouse summary page from 1911.

There are various headings with number of inmates including tramp ward, convalescing, bedridden etc but the majority of the inmates are under the heading "aged men & merit" 

I am puzzled what "merit" means 

[BumbleB]

Can you post a snip so that we can see for ourselves, please

[stanmapstone]

The change in the attitude of the public toward poverty in old age during the latter part of the nineteenth century resulted in greater benefits for older inmates. However, these were restricted to those who were felt by the guardians to be ‘deserving’ and Birmingham created its ‘Merit Class’ along with many other unions. https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/846/1/Ritch10MPhil_A1a.pdf

Stan

[Pennines]

Yes -- see;

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/life/classification.shtml

which mentions that at Birmingham there was a 'Merit' ward, which was more comfortable for those inmates considered to be more deserving.

[Milliepede]

Thank you most interesting.

[Treetotal]

I have never come across that before, so I have learnt something today 
Carol

[Rosinish]

I have never come across that before, so I have learnt something today 
Carol

Me too, that's the great thing about Genealogy, always learning even as we become 'aged'! 

Annie

[Pennines]

Annie --- 'as we become aged' ---- what are you trying to say young lady!!

[Rosinish]

Pennines...put simply, we're never too old to learn whether 20/40/60 yrs old (or more) 

Annie