NHS London Weighting (HCAS) Rates 2026/27

Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay circular.

By the NHS Bands Pay editorial team

This guide sets out the 2026/27 rates, who qualifies and worked examples. For the full pay picture, see NHS pay bands 2026/27, or use the NHS pay calculator to estimate your take-home pay including HCAS.

What is the High Cost Area Supplement?

The High Cost Area Supplement replaced the old London weighting system when Agenda for Change was introduced in 2004. It is a permanent addition to basic pay for staff whose principal place of work falls inside one of three zones around London, recognising the higher cost of living in the capital and its surrounding areas. For the full framework, see Agenda for Change explained.

Key facts:

• HCAS is calculated as a percentage of basic salary, subject to a minimum and maximum cash value per zone.
• It is paid pro rata for part-time staff.
• It is pensionable — it counts towards NHS pension benefits — and is subject to tax and National Insurance.
• The 2026/27 values were uplifted by 3.3% in line with the Agenda for Change pay award, effective 1 April 2026.
• It does not change your NHS annual leave entitlement (27–33 days plus bank holidays).

HCAS rates 2026/27

How the minimum and maximum work:

• If the percentage of your basic salary falls below the minimum, you receive the minimum.
• If it exceeds the maximum, you receive the maximum (this is common for senior bands in inner London).
• If it falls between the two, you receive the exact percentage.

Which areas qualify? Inner, outer and fringe explained

HCAS zones follow official boundaries used across the NHS. As a general guide:

• Inner London covers the central London boroughs — for example Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent, Ealing, Haringey, Lewisham, Greenwich, Newham and Barking and Dagenham, plus the City of London. Most major central London teaching hospitals sit in this zone.
• Outer London covers the remaining London boroughs — for example Croydon, Bromley, Barnet, Enfield, Hounslow, Bexley, Havering, Redbridge, Sutton, Merton, Kingston, Richmond, Hillingdon, Harrow, Ealing's outer areas and similar. District general hospitals across Greater London typically fall here.
• The fringe zone covers parts of the home counties bordering London — including parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Kent. Examples include areas around Dartford, Watford, Slough, High Wycombe and Guildford, though exact boundaries are defined street-by-street in some cases.

Because boundaries can be surprisingly specific — two neighbouring trusts can sit in different zones — always confirm your zone with your trust's HR or payroll department, or check your ESR record, rather than assuming from the postcode alone.

Worked examples: HCAS in 2026/27

Example 1 — a Band 5 salary in London (entry, £32,073), inner London. 20% of basic salary:

0.20 × £32,073 = £6,414.60 per year

This sits between the £5,794 minimum and £8,746 maximum, so she receives the full £6,414.60 — about £534.55 a month. Total pay: £32,073 + £6,414.60 = £38,487.60.

Example 2 — a healthcare assistant on the NHS Band 2 pay and hourly rate (£25,272 spot rate), inner London. 20% of basic salary:

0.20 × £25,272 = £5,054.40 per year

This is below the £5,794 minimum, so he receives the minimum: £5,794 per year. The minimum exists precisely to protect lower-banded staff, for whom a straight percentage would be too small.

Example 3 — Band 8d manager, top of band (£108,814), inner London. 20% of basic salary:

0.20 × £108,814 = £21,762.80 per year

This exceeds the £8,746 maximum, so she receives the maximum: £8,746 per year. The cap means senior staff gain proportionally less from HCAS.

Example 4 — NHS Band 6 salary 2026/27: top of band (£48,117), outer London. 15% of basic salary:

0.15 × £48,117 = £7,217.55 per year

Above the £6,137 maximum, so he receives £6,137 per year. For comparison, NHS Band 4 salary 2026/27 tops out at £31,157 — 15% of that is £4,673.55, below the £4,870 outer London minimum, so a band 4 employee would receive the minimum.

Example 5 — NHS Band 5 pay, hourly rates and overtime: top of band (£39,043), fringe zone. 5% of basic salary:

0.05 × £39,043 = £1,952.15 per year

Within the £1,346–£2,270 range, so she receives £1,952.15 — about £162.68 a month.

HCAS and part-time staff

HCAS is pro-rated for part-time staff in the same way as basic salary. For example, a band 5 nurse at the top of the band (£39,043) working 0.5 WTE in inner London would first have her HCAS calculated on the full-time figure (£7,808.60, i.e. 20% of £39,043, within the min/max range) and then halved: £3,904.30 per year.

HCAS, overtime and unsocial hours

HCAS is an addition to basic pay, not a multiplier on enhancements:

• Unsocial hours enhancements (Section 2) and overtime rates (Section 3) are calculated on basic salary, not on basic salary plus HCAS — see NHS unsocial hours and overtime pay 2026/27.
• HCAS itself is pensionable and counts towards your NHS pension.
• If you move between zones — for example, transferring from an outer London trust to an inner London trust — your HCAS changes from your start date in the new post. Check the change appears on your next payslip.

Frequently asked questions

What is NHS London weighting?

London weighting is the informal name for the High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS), the Agenda for Change payment made to NHS staff working in and around London. It replaced the old London weighting system in 2004 and is now paid in three zones: inner, outer and fringe.

How much is inner London weighting for NHS staff in 2026/27?

Inner London HCAS is 20% of basic salary, with a minimum of £5,794 and a maximum of £8,746 per year. Staff whose 20% calculation falls between those figures receive the exact percentage.

What is the difference between inner, outer and fringe HCAS?

Inner London pays 20% of basic salary (£5,794–£8,746), outer London pays 15% (£4,870–£6,137), and the fringe zone — parts of the home counties bordering London — pays 5% (£1,346–£2,270). The zone depends on where your principal place of work is located.

Is HCAS pensionable?

Yes. The High Cost Area Supplement is pensionable and counts towards your NHS pension benefits. It is also subject to income tax and National Insurance.

Do part-time staff get full London weighting?

No — HCAS is pro-rated for part-time staff. A 0.5 WTE employee receives half the full-time HCAS value for their band and zone.

Which areas qualify for fringe HCAS?

The fringe zone covers parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Kent bordering London — for example areas around Dartford, Watford, Slough and High Wycombe. Boundaries are precise, so confirm with your trust.

Does HCAS increase with the annual pay award?

Yes. HCAS minimum and maximum values are typically uplifted each year in line with the Agenda for Change pay award — the 2026/27 values rose by 3.3% from 1 April 2026.

Sources: NHS Employers pay circulars 2026/27; Agenda for Change handbook, NHS Staff Council; Health Careers NHS pay and benefits guidance.

This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the NHS, NHS Employers or any trade union. Figures are verified against NHS Employers pay circulars and the Agenda for Change handbook (NHS Staff Council) as of 26 September 2026. HCAS zone boundaries can be highly specific — always confirm your zone with your trust's HR or payroll department and check your ESR record.