BPS claims near 80,000 as deadline looms

With just hours to go until the midnight Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) deadline for claiming without penalties, 80,000 claims have been received by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

Farmers who have still not submitted their forms are urged to take them directly to one of the RPA’s drop in centres, some of which will remain open up to tonight’s midnight deadline. Farmers can find their local drop-in centre and opening times on GOV.UK by searching ‘find help to claim rural payments’ or use this link https://www.gov.uk/find-help-to-claim-rural-payments. After today, the drop in centre opening days and times will change and full details will appear online, along with BPS information reflecting the things you will need to know about claiming after 15 June.

Farmers and agents who have already posted their forms can check it has been received using an automated service. To access this service just call the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301 and have your SBI ready. The helpline will be open to help with queries from 7am-6pm Monday – Friday this week.