2016 Application Process Opens

The Rural Payments service is now available to start the 2016 BPS application process.  Although not yet possible to submit a claim, this ‘functionality’ will not be available until mid – late March, it is now possible to view and transfer land and entitlements.  There is also the facility to check and amend if necessary personal & business details and permissions already held on the system from last year. 

Farmers & agents can sign into the Rural Payments service at https://www.ruralpayments.service.gov.uk/  Customer Reference numbers (CRNs) and passwords from last year are still valid.  If you can’t remember your password it is possible to create a new one from the ‘Signing in Page’.  If you have forgotten your CRN you will need to phone the RPA on 03000 200 301.

To transfer land or entitlements it is the transferor who needs to start the process.  Withrespect to entitlement transfer, there is no six week notification period, the system is updated overnight.  It will be possible to view the entitlements on the transferees list once the ‘effective date’ has passed.  Usually the effective date will be the same date as you are doing the transfer but it is possible to put a date in the future.  There is no online submission notification, it is advisable to take a screen shot to keep as a receipt.  Notification will be sent hardcopy by post this year, to the person completing the transfer i.e could be the agent and to the transferee.

It is not possible to sub lease or transfer entitlements through inheritance via the online system this year; an RLE1 will need to be completed for these.  In addition, the transferee must be an ‘Active Farmer’.  For most the declaration on their 2015 application will be valid until May 16th 2016.  But for new entrants and those who have changed their business from last year they will have to complete a ‘Stand Alone Active Farmer Declaration’.  This should be available shortly.

To transfer land it is a similar process.  If possible it is advisable to transfer land by this process as it will ensure it is in the ‘correct place’ ready for making the application.  But as it is the transferor who needs to undertake the process it does depend on both parties being on good terms.  Once again the transfer is processed overnight and a screen shot is advisable, as notification will be sent by post.  Although, it should be possible to see that the fields have been removed from one claim and are on the other the next day.

It is only possible to transfer whole land parcels online by sale, gift or lease.  Transfers by sub-lease inheritance or for part fields will need to be done via an RLE1 form.

All the latest guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bps-2016 This includes the BPS 2016 Scheme Rules guidance booklet;  this will only be made available on line in 2016.  Further guidance; How to complete your BPS 2016 online application will be sent hard copy to all applicants in March.  Further on line tutorials are also available to show applicants how to claim BPS online in 2016.  There is also on screen guidance as you go through the processes.