IT problems hit Basic Payment Scheme

IT problems at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) mean that farmers and their agents will have to resort to pen and paper to complete their applications for the Basic Payment Scheme.

The Agency is still promising to make payments from December 2015 but apart from registering, farmers will not be asked to enter any further data online.

From 23rd March, two forms will be available to download from the RPA’s website. These are:

•  RLE1, which allows claimants to transfer land and entitlements and make changes to their land
• BP5, the BPS claim form

The new ways farmers can complete their claims are:

• Farm businesses with little change to their land will be fast-tracked by the RPA. They will receive an email in April that summarises the land and entitlement information already held, together with simple instructions on completing their claim by email. The RPA has identified approximately 39,000 farmers in this category.
• Farm businesses that need to map new features can use blank existing forms to prepare their claims, before they are sent a pre-populated form in April. They can submit their claim by post or through an RPA drop-in centre.

Any farmer who has not received an up-to-date map of their land from the RPA in the last six months will be sent one during April.

All agents will have received maps of their clients’ land from the RPA by the end of next week. Those dealing with the most complex cases will be offered additional support. The RPA is also working to give them direct access to the system.