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Disability groups hit out at government's austerity age plans to dock benefits
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron during a meeting of the new-look Cabinet following a reshuffle on Monday, at 10 Downing Street, London, November 14, 2023

DISABILITY groups accused the government today of seeking to penalise people who cannot work after ministers set out plans to dock benefits from claimants who refuse to take jobs offered to them.

Under the proposals, free prescriptions and legal aid will denied to benefit claimants deemed fit to work who do not seek employment.

The measure is a part of a £2.5 billion back-to-work plan that is supposed to help up more than one million claimants find and stay in employment.

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