BPS Payment Update February 16, 2016 12:00 am England As at 12th February the RPA had paid 68,572 (78.7%) claimants their 2015 Basic Payment. In monetary terms this amounts to £1.043 billion, approximately 73%. Payments will continue to be made throughout February as they are processed. Those claims involving commons or cross borders or those that have been involved in an inspection should have been contacted and told when they can be expected to be paid. As previously stated, payments should be checked carefully as we are hearing of many that are wrong. This can be a little difficult armed with just the remittance advice but Claim Statements should be sent out shortly. These will be sent to the business address i.e. the one where the remittance advice went to (this means the farmer rather than the Agent will receive it). Claim Statements will not be available online. Similarly, Entitlements Statements will be posted out to the business address shortly. However it should be possible to view (and transfer) entitlements on line via the Rural Payments service from the end of February onwards. Scotland Farmers are fairing a lot worse in Scotland. As at 12th February the Scottish Government announced 7,306 claimants had received partial payments; just 40% of the estimated total number. Partial payments are approximately 80% of the total BPS and Greening payment. The Scottish Government has announced a ‘Hardship Scheme’ funded by £20m, to support farmers whilst the BPS payments are processed. Details are awaited.
