Payment Plus Calculator
What Payment Plus Adds — Band 3, pay point 1 with unsocial hours
| Payment Plus hours per month | Gross annual | Take-home per month |
|---|---|---|
| None | £34,928 | £2,282 |
| 10 hours a month | £37,688 | £2,448 |
| 20 hours a month | £40,448 | £2,613 |
Payment Plus is the scheme for picking up additional shifts beyond your contracted hours. The rate rose by £1 to £23 an hour from 1 April 2026, following the Prison Service Pay Review Body's recommendation — the Review Body also committed to a full review of Payment Plus, having noted that officers can be paid less for a Payment Plus hour than their own single hourly rate.
Payment Plus is taxable and subject to National Insurance like any other pay, but it is not pensionable — it does not raise your pension contributions, your pension benefits, or your alpha tier.
What that means in practice: 10 hours a month adds £2,760 a year gross and roughly £166 a month in your pocket for a Band 3 officer at pay point 1. Twenty hours a month adds about £331 a month. Bedwatch and constant watch are also paid at the Payment Plus rate.