BPS – Making a Claim

Pre-populated forms are now being e-mailed out.  To those who have previously used the paper SP5 form they will look pretty familiar but there are some changes that are not obvious at first glance which claimants need to be aware of. 

Ineligible Features

Perhaps the most importantis how column C4 is being used this year.  Under SPS this column was the maximum field area less any permanent ineligible features (pifs).  Under BPS, C4 is the maximum area less all BPS ineligible features i.e. permanent and temporary ineligible features (tifs) and land that is not ‘at your disposal’ on 15^th May.  It is no longer possible to just reduce C8 to take account of temporary ineligible features.  Under BPS column C4 will be used to calculate:

• the maximum eligible area to activate entitlements
• whether there are any excess entitlements (remember in 2015 there must be enough ‘eligible’ land, any excess will be lost to the National Reserve, although, of course, these can be sold or leased out prior to June 15^th)
• eligible land areas for Greening requirements

On pre-populated forms C4 will usually arrive filled in with the total field size less any permanent ineligible features which were mapped under the SPS.  For 2015 you must make sure the following areas are all deducted under C4:

• both permanent and temporary ineligible features (that haven’t been deducted already)
• any area which is not at your disposal for BPS, i.e. in a ‘dual use’ situation such as for a Landlord where the land is under an RDPE scheme
• any area which will not be eligible for the whole calendar year, i.e. where utility works will take place
• any area of land under an RDPE agreement which is not eligible for the BPS

Leading on from this is how you declare ineligible features on your BP5 form.  Previously, under the SPS you just deducted the area and if it was permanent an RLE1 was submitted.  Under BPS, this depends on whether they have been mapped previously;

• for permanently ineligible features which are already included on the RLR maps and pre-populated on forms you do not need to split the field parcel, give a land use for it, or send in an RLE1 and sketch map, but
• for permanently ineligible features which are not mapped you need to deduct the area at C4, split the field parcel at C5, give the area of the feature at  C6, give the ineligible feature/area a land use at C7 and deduct the area from C8.  An RLE1 and sketch map needs to be completed to inform RPA of the feature
• where the permanent ineligible area covers the whole field parcel remember to deduct the area at C4 and C8 (0.00) and put the land use code in C7.  If the area is already mapped as ineligible you do not have to send in an RLE1 and sketch map; if it is not mapped you must provide this information on an RLE1
• for temporary ineligible features and areas in field parcels you must deduct the area at C4, split the parcel at C5 and insert its area at C6, complete C7 with the appropriate land use code and reduce the area in C8.  You do not need to complete an RLE1 form or send in sketch maps for temporary ineligible features or areas.

Entitlements

A further area where claimants need to take care is surrounding entitlements.  Under SPS you didn’t have to update the entitlement totals on your form.  But under BPS you must ensure the information at Part I on the BP5 form is correct.  If it isn’t, you must update it using the boxes below.  The information can be compared to the 2014 SPS Entitlement Statement.  These were sent out to all claimants recently, they should include transfers made up to 21^st October 2014, but probably not those submitted after this date.  If the entitlements shown are different to the number which will be held on 15t^h June, these need updating, i.e. if you intend to transfer any entitlements out or in before the deadline date, Part I will need updating. 

Remember entitlements can only be transferred to Active Farmers.  If the entity receiving the entitlements is found not to be an Active Farmer the transfer will be deemed invalid and the entitlements will be lost to the National Reserve.  The entitlements will not be returned to their original owner.  If you do not want to claim the BPS, but want to transfer entitlements or land to somebody else you do not need to be registered on the Rural Payments Service.  However if someone wants to give an Agent permission to do the transfer for them, it looks like the only way to do that is via the Rural Payments system and therefore they would still need to register on to the system.

Other Points to Note

• Applicants will receive confirmation that the RPA has received their application; this must be kept in a safe place.  If an application is submitted after receiving an e-mail with an ‘apply now’ link (straightforward applications) there will be a confirmation on screen.  Print off a copy.  If the application is sent by post, a receipt will be sent by post.  Finally, if the form is taken to a support centre (see below) a receipt will be given.
• There are 50 support centres around the country a list of them can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/421868/Find_an_RPA_support_centre_v2.pdf For agents taking more than 5 applications or 5 RLE1 forms an appointment must be made, phone 03000 200 301.
• If you have received an e-mail which includes an ‘apply now’ link and your holding is less than 10 hectares you do not have to complete the land use column C7, as you are exempt from Crop Diversification and EFA requirements.
• Land you are using for catch and cover crops as part of your EFA needs to be included in part C, but the land use at C7 must be that which is in the ground on 15^th May; in most cases this will not be the catch or cover crop.
• All Common Land must be claimed at Part E even if under SPS it was allowed to be claimed at Part C because nobody else was claiming it.  If it is pre-populated at C, delete and put it in Part E.
• Part D only needs to be completed for EFA features.  Sketch maps are not required for EFA features.
• Grass strips, such as margins, headlands, tracks etc that you are not using as EFA buffer strips do not need to be identified separately from the rest of the land parcel, but you can if you want to use these areas to help you satisfy Crop Diversification requirements or towards your grassland Greening exemption; again you do not need to sketch these areas.