BPS Deadline Extension

The Scottish Government has extended the deadline for Basic Payment Scheme applications by a month.  SAFs will now need to be submitted by the 15^th June.  Whilst the Government claims the online system is working well, those inspected in 2015 do not yet have updated mapping data making it very hard to build an application.  The extension has primarily been granted in light of this.  Other claimants are urged to submit thier applications as soon as possible as it means there will be less delay in processing (and payment) of 2016 funds.  A condition of the extension means that there is no post-application ‘grace period’ to make alterations without penalty – another reason to apply as early as possible.

All the other regions of the UK are retaining the usual 15^th May date (actually the 16^th this year).  In England there has also been pressure to extend the deadline.  This looks set to be resisted by the RPA, as it is concerned about reducing the time it has to process and validate 2016 applications (and, presumably, sort out the errors from 2015).  In our experience, whilst the online application process is working OK, it seems to take a long time to actually complete a claim (longer than in previous years).  Whilst it is difficult to pinpoint what is slowing things down, it seems a combination of factors such as getting the right land onto the system, working to 4 d.p., and trying to reconcile field areas with previous claims.  

The ability to extend the deadline has come about due to an EU-wide decision to allow an extension.  As the BPS beds-in such extensions will become increasingly unlikely in future.