Pay according to merit, maybe? (5)
I believe the answer is:
remit
'pay' is the definition.
(I know that remit is a more specific form of the action pay)
'merit maybe?' is the wordplay.
'maybe?' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'maybe' mean this).
'merit' is an anagram of 'REMIT'.
'according to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for remit that I've seen before include "Job specification" , "Send - terms of reference" , "Assigned task or area" , "Send back; scope of authority" , "Cancel - terms of reference" .)