BPS Roundup

There have been a number of new pieces of BPS information over the last few of weeks:

• The RPA has announced it aims to make BPS payments to 90% of claimants by the end of December 2016, but rather worryingly its target is only for a further 3% to be paid between 31^st December and 31^st March.  This means 7% of claimants (roughly 6,000 farms) will seemingly have to wait until at least April for funds.  it will probably be the ‘usual suspects’ that are in this category – cross-border farms, those with commons, where inspections have taken place etc. 
• The second version of the BPS 2016 Handbook (note, not the 2017 Handbook) has been released which now includes the revised penalty and yellow card system.  This can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bps-2016
• Whole Case Workers are shortly due to return.  This was the system where Agents, who dealt with multiple SPS applications, had a named individual with which to discuss cases.  The system was a casualty of the introduction of the BPS.  Over the next few weeks, Agents with five or more SBIs for the 2016 BPS should be contacted by the RPA.  They will allocated an Agent Relationship Manager (ARM) – the new name for Case Workers.  They will primarily be for 2016 applications, but it will be possible to discuss any outstanding 2015 payments as well
• Contrary to earlier indications, 2015 Entitlement Statements are not now going to be sent out in hard copy.  Towards the end of this year it should be possible to view the entitlements by ‘scheme year’ on the Rural Payments system
• There is no further detail as to when the ability to transfer entitlements online will reappear.  Again, ‘towards the end of the year’ is as much detail as we have
• The RPA is aiming to complete all 2016 entitlement transfers by the end of October.  Notifications not already received will not be sent hard copy.  All notifications are now sent via ‘messages’ on the Rural Payments system 
• A report by the National Audit Office shows that as of 17^th October, the RPA is still continuing to work on 1,009 BPS 2015 claims.  Correction work was supposed to have been completed by 15^th October.  There also may be a further tranche, although no figures have been released on how many claims which, following ‘reanalysed improved data’, may have been underpaid
• Northern Ireland has started making advanced 2016 BPS payments.  DAERA has confirmed that more than 90% of claimants have received an initial payment.