The British arm of a US contractor that assessments whether or not some individuals within the UK ought to obtain incapacity advantages has reported a 23% rise in earnings.
Maximus, a Virginia-based enterprise, reported a rise in pre-tax earnings for its UK arm from £23.6m to £29.1m in its monetary 12 months to the tip of September, accounts lodged at Corporations Home present. Its income rose 2%, from £294m to £300m.
The corporate is the most important supplier of practical evaluation companies, or FAS, for the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP). These assessments decide an individual’s stage of perform and talent to carry out on a regular basis duties.
Maximus has supplied well being assessments on behalf of the DWP for a decade, evaluating how a lot somebody’s well being situation or incapacity impacts their potential to work as a part of claims for common credit score or employment and assist allowance.
The corporate secured a five-year authorities contract in 2023 to supply practical evaluation companies, at an estimated worth of £800m over the interval, with the choice to increase for an extra two years. This included finishing up assessments for the private independence fee (Pip) from autumn final 12 months, a interval not lined by the outcomes.
In a inexperienced paper revealed in March, the DWP stated experiences of Pip assessments have been “not all the time optimistic”.
The nationwide incapacity charity Sense stated that “no person must be rewarded for treating disabled individuals with disrespect”.
Tom Marsland, of the charity, stated: “Sense’s analysis discovered that half of disabled individuals with complicated wants who’ve been by a advantages evaluation discovered it humiliating, and virtually half didn’t get the proper communication assist to correctly exhibit why they want assist.
“These statistics are stunning and present a deep-rooted downside with the present evaluation course of.
“We want to see the federal government introduce clear requirements to make sure advantages assessments are truthful and accessible for disabled individuals, with nobody left feeling like a legal merely for attempting to entry the assist they want,” he stated. “There must also be monetary penalties for evaluation suppliers who fail to supply the proper communication assist and accessibility measures.”
The federal government plans to cut back eligibility for Pip and the well being part of common credit score. In consequence, official figures counsel 3.2 million individuals might lose a mean of £1,720 a 12 months and 250,000 individuals might be pushed into relative poverty.
Maximus UK is a part of an even bigger US organisation that’s listed in New York with a market worth of $4.2bn (£3.1bn). Shares within the enterprise, which additionally gives administration and companies for US programmes reminiscent of Medicaid and Medicare, have dropped 12% prior to now 12 months.
Bruce Caswell, the chief govt of Maximus, was paid a base wage of $886,904 in 2024, with inventory awards, incentive plans and different compensation taking his complete package deal to $10.2m.
after publication promotion
A spokesperson for Maximus stated: “The figures … characterize the whole thing of our enterprise within the UK, which delivers employment, abilities, well being and buyer companies contracts for a variety of commissioners. We’re proud to make use of greater than 5,000 colleagues throughout the nation and proceed to spend money on our UK operations.
“We’re dedicated to delivering an knowledgeable, respectful and delicate service to prospects. Maximus has delivered well being assessments on behalf of the DWP since 2015. In that point, now we have invested in specialist coaching, lowered the period of time a buyer spends within the evaluation course of, and supplied extra assist to make the method extra accessible.
“Now we have achieved year-on-year enhancements in buyer satisfaction by working in collaboration with charities and knowledgeable companions, in search of suggestions and constantly enhancing the service we offer.”
A DWP spokesperson stated: “All Pip assessments are independently audited to make sure claimants are receiving the identical high-quality service, no matter which contractor conducts it.
“To assist this additional, contractors are appointed by an open, clear, and aggressive course of, and we monitor their efficiency carefully and guarantee they persistently meet the usual required.”
Supply hyperlink
