Is Devon care workers' bonus humbug?

"Too good to be true" says Lib Dem leader

News that social care workers in Devon may receive a winter bonus of around £500 each is turning out to be not quite as portrayed, according to the Liberal Democrat leader of the county council.

Councillor Alan Connett, who represents Torbay and who is also leader of Teignbridge District Council, claims a statement issued by Devon County Council just before Christmas isn't all that it cracks up to be.

The story, published by Radio Exe on Christmas Eve morning, said that social care in the county is set to get a £5 million cash injection and that the council had asked care home providers to get it to staff delivering front-line services.

Cllr Connett thinks the idea that each worker may receive £500 is over-egging the pudding this Christmas.

He responded to the piece on Radio Exe's Facebook page and later issued a statement in which he wrote: "At first I thought this was really good news and a real bonus for the social care staff that the county relies on and we need, because they help in the care when people need to leave hospitals. There are so many vacancies across the county, this bonus seemed good news.

"But it turns out that it is too good to be all true."

"Checking with county hall this morning, senior managers have confirmed the bonus payments will be paid when claimed by the employers and the bonus payments to individual workers could be paid weekly, fortnightly, in two installments or a one-off.

"They've also clarified that income tax and National Insurance will be deducted, so it is likely that for many people they will get far less than the headline £500 and more like around £350 or less," said Cllr Connett.

It is usual for cash paid through payrolls to be subject to cash and national insurance, and it would be unusual were that not to be the case. But now Cllr Connett wants clarification from Conservative-controlled county hall that the money will be sued for bonuses. The council's statement suggests that it is at the discretion of care home providers.

He wrote: " County hall say 'care home providers will be expected to ensure that their care staff benefit from the multi-million winter payment' and that 'it will be equivalent to about £500 per member of their care staff'. That is casting doubt on what the intention is. Is it £500 per worker or is it money that care home providers can use in different ways?

"What should be a good news story this Christmas now appears to be very muddled and social care staff will not know that the cash could possibly be paid weekly or, it seems, used in an entirely different way."

Radio Exe's original story is here: https://bit.ly/3FrBXmd