THE MAN behind the roll out of the new Universal Credit benefit in East Hampshire, says he would rather help people back into work than earn much more working in the private sector.
David McArthur is a Department for Work and Pensions senior recruitment account manager responsible for Hampshire and other Southern counties.
The single father, who has been offered up to five times his current salary to move to the United States or United Arab Emirates, believes Hampshire has a “great work ethic.”
He said: “Hampshire is one of the most buoyant labour markets in the UK.
“People move into work here quicker than almost anywhere else in the UK, and it’s a wonderful part of the country to live, with work in a wide range of sectors.
“I love the fact that I can help large volumes of people into work. I’m not interested in earning a six figure salary, in London, or anywhere else in the world, helping individuals find high level jobs.”
He firmly believes the new Universal Credit benefit is already making a difference. Already a few people in East Hampshire are receiving it, and in time it is due to replace most other benefits.
Mr McArthur said: “It’s a huge task doing in here. We haven’t rushed it, we wanted to roll it out smoothly in a positive way.
“At the moment in Hampshire only single people claiming benefit are moving onto Universal Credit, but in time everyone signing on will go straight on it.” This will include couples and families.
Universal Credit is a single monthly payment for people in or out of work, which merges together some of the benefits and tax credits they might be getting now.
It is set to replace Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit.