Part BPS Payments in Scotland

Scottish farmers will receive BPS payments in December – but only part of them.  The Scottish Government has announced that the BPS will be made in two instalments. Payments will begin at the end of December, worth at least 70% of the total value.   Around a quarter of the 21,000 claimants are expected to receive payment in 2015 with the majority paid by the end of January and all first instalments paid by the end of March.  Final instalments will be paid during April.

The Scottish Government had previously stated it was aiming for full payment in December.  Indications over the last few weeks suggested that this was increasingly unlikely.  The decision to move to part payments, although perhaps frustrating for many, does mean payments can begin more-on-less on schedule, and earlier than would otherwise be the case. This will be a relief to many already facing cashflow difficulties.  Following on from the computer issues faced during the BPS application window as well as the month’s deadline extension it is perhaps no surprise that the Scottish Government, along with other UK administrations, has found this year complex.