THE number of people claiming disability benefits in Oxfordshire has increased by more than a third in eight years.

The figures were released yesterday by the Department for Work and Pensions.

They revealed 18,740 residents were claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in November 2010, up from 13,790 in 2002.

Cherwell has the highest number of claimants, 4,520, followed by Oxford, 4,820, and South Oxfordshire, 3,290.

Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, said: “The number of people claiming DLA has soared, but it is clear the right support is not always getting to those who need it the most. DLA needs to help disabled people live independently and remove the barriers that they face in day-to-day life.”

The DWP said around 20 per cent of people claiming the allowance have not had any contact with the department in the past 10 years.

The Government is planning to replace the current system with so called Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to ‘ensure the right level of support is available for disabled people’.

The new proposals include reassessments over time to ensure everyone receives the correct support as their needs change Ms Miller added: “We are committed to ensuring that the £12bn spent on DLA every year goes to where it can make the most difference.

“Our reforms will make it simpler and easier to understand and will mean that we will have more contact with people so that if their condition changes they can get any extra help and support they might need.

“We are working with disabled people and disability organisations on our reforms to make sure we get them right.”