Benefits assessment contractor withdraws pay offer

The company which carries out assessments for disability, injury and ill health benefit claims has withdrawn a pay offer it made to staff before the coronavirus lockdown.

The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, operated by Maximus, does the assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

The unions that represent staff in CHDA had received an offer of 2% for all eligible staff just before the shutdown.

Prospect reps on the branch committee had considered and agreed the offer.

The union informed management of the decision and was waiting for confirmation that the increase would be paid when the crisis broke.

The employer has now decided that it will not be able to pay the award at this point in the year. However, eligible staff who receive achieving and exceeds performance ratings will receive the relevant bonus.

CHDA said it had withdrawn the offer because of the economic impact and uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

Prospect negotiator Dave Allen said:

“Prospect has made clear to management that our members will be bitterly disappointed at this news, although we do recognise the extraordinary times we live in.

“We note that the announcement does not rule out that the award could be made later in the year, and Prospect will continue to press for that to happen.

“We will also continue to work with CHDA to protect jobs,” Allen concluded.