Basic Payment Scheme - an update

The RPA has announced a significant change to this year’s Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claims and has admitted that the on-line system isn’t working.

Farmers still need to be registered using the on-line system, but claims will be made using paper forms.

Further details are expected on Monday 23rd March, but we understand that farm businesses with little change to their land will receive an email from the RPA in April summarising their land / entitlement information and offering a simple way to complete the claim by email.

For those claimants with more changes, EFAs and ineligible features to be identified, pre-populated paper claim forms will be issued in April which can be submitted by post or through RPA drop in centres.

Blank claim forms and RLE 1 forms should be available next week to allow work to commence on preparing claims.

All mapping will be done on paper maps – we have already obtained up to date copies of RLR Maps for our clients in readiness.

Further information on entitlement transfers and permissions etc. is awaited.

The EU Commissioner is allowing member states to extend the claim deadline to 15th June – DEFRA are expected to confirm shortly that this will apply to England.

If you would like to discuss this, please get in touch with Adam Jaeban of our Rural Team on 01509 243720 or email adam.jaeban@andrewgranger.co.uk