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.