MORE than 4,600 disabled Brits had their benefits wrongly taken away, ministers admitted today.

After a tribunal ruled against the government last month, thousands will be entitled to a refund.

They will be paid back the cash from the new year, it was revealed earlier today - on the last day Parliament's sitting before Christmas.

Those who were involved were punished and had their benefits docked for failing to attend meetings with the DWP.

But it was later found out they had a "good reason" for not showing up.

The news is another blow for the DWP after they were forced to review 1.6million Personal Independence Payment benefits earlier this year - and 220,000 will have to be paid back.

Around 140,000 have been paid back around £4,500 so far, ministers said today, and they are taking on 250 staff to help do this.

Minesh Patel, Policy and Campaigns Manager at disability equality charity Scope says: “It’s deplorable that over 4,000 disabled people have had their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award terminated unfairly.

“Whilst steps are being taken to rectify these errors, this alone won’t fix the lack of trust in the system. A complete overhaul is needed of the PIP application process to iron out the lack of transparency and routine inaccuracies.”

Baroness Buscombe, PPS at the DWP said of today's news: "The Department has been working at pace and taking the necessary steps required to implement the ruling.

"We expect around 4,600 people to gain as a result of this review exercise, all claimants who benefit from the Upper Tribunal decision will be notified by the Department."

The news comes after The Sun launched its Make Universal Credit Work campaign this week.

We are demanding ministers make changes to the system before its too late.

Today The Sun told how one family won't even have food this Christmas while struggling with the new system.

It was revealed earlier that disabled people could lose vital benefits when they move over to the new system.

Claimants with a full time carer will be better off, but those without will not be able to access extra help, MPs said.