BPS 2016 online applications can start from first week in March

[Meadow Brown]

"farmers should act now"

But no drop-in centres for paper forms this year, apparently, llamedos.

And as for "it's easy to add parcels to online claims" by generating yet another paper trail, words completely fail me.

The deadline to do this via email is the 6th May to show on your online maps - not much notice there!

 

[Socksitis]

The only thing you can do @Meadow Brown is to be guided by the moorland entitlements on the form that were allocated last year. They may - or may not be similar to the forage area the common will provide - hoping your common rights are moorland?

 

[Meadow Brown]

The only thing you can do @Meadow Brown is to be guided by the moorland entitlements on the form that were allocated last year. They may - or may not be similar to the forage area the common will provide - hoping your common rights are moorland?

Thank you @Socksitis - they are mostly moorland entitlements and showing as exactly the same figure as at 2014.
Adviser couldn't tell me if all the common land for 2015 had been finalised yet so pretty much guess work.
Percentage of perm pasture (inc common land) over arable comes to 89% so hopefully enough over the 75% required.

 

[Socksitis]

Stupid system that is completely illogical in its approach. There are no helpful hints on the pages - all it needed was a few more links - from the land use to the land parcel page. A note to say press save to activate and pre-populate the common land section. The generate claim button, before the download button - not underneath it. Another note to say how to add or amend common rights - by clicking on the new page tab.

Perhaps they should listen to the feedback from users? I have provided feedback!

 

[Meadow Brown]

I agree @Socksitis re the illogical system. The problem was and still is, is that the land viewer and the land use system are 2 separate entities - built, I think by different IT providers. Hence all the discrepancies we're seeing eg 2 decimals on the mapping and 4 on the land use screen plus no obvious links to switch between.

The really annoying one for me is having to go into the applications menu to reduce your BPS (not enough entitlements for all land). It takes ages to load and save.

The commons one is awful!. Why have a commons screen that you can't activate anything in? You have to go into applications and then claim less common or whatever it was. This is just not logical! And not explained anywhere as you say @Socksitis.

The whole thing is certainly not a finished product - it's BETA. I think we should all use the feedback to tell them what needs changing for next year.

 

[officegirl]

Do you think they would take any notice though - just spend ages telling them how to improve the system and nothing will happen!

 

[Meadow Brown]

Do you think they would take any notice though - just spend ages telling them how to improve the system and nothing will happen!

Seems to be the problem @officegirl that they don't listen enough to those who use the system and take our comments on board.

They also probably ran out of time (and budget) with the 2016 offering!

I did however submit a comment last year that any mapping should have a measuring tool and we got that this year (if only linear!).
Think I'll still continue to give feedback - I find it therapeutic to vent sometimes!

 

[officegirl]

I know what you mean - I too got a result from a letter last year complaining that I received all the postings directed to me as agent - nearly broke the postman's back!

 

[Flintstone]

Sorry if it's been asked before, but should I have got an email receipt when I submitted my 2016 online claim?

I did it three weeks ago and haven't had anything, even though the pdf of the claim form has a submitted date on it.

 

[Funny Farmer]

Stupid system that is completely illogical in its approach. There are no helpful hints on the pages - all it needed was a few more links - from the land use to the land parcel page. A note to say press save to activate and pre-populate the common land section. The generate claim button, before the download button - not underneath it. Another note to say how to add or amend common rights - by clicking on the new page tab.

Perhaps they should listen to the feedback from users? I have provided feedback!

I have held off attempting my 2016 claim until the outcome of my 2015 claim was resolved. I have been now been told by RPA that there are "issues" with my 2015 claim but they are awaiting the results of the inspection ( which took place in July) so cannot confirm what the "issues" are and whether or not they will impact on my payment. When I pointed out I had only received half my bridging payment, so about 25% of my total claim I was informed that where Inspection results are awaited the assumption is the inspection was failed and payments are made on this "worse case scenario". When I asked what I was supposed to do with my 2016 claim I was told to proceed on the basis of what I believed to be correct, this I told them, seemed on the evidence available, to have resulted in a 50% disallowance of my 2015 claim and as I don't know what the issue is and they won't or can't tell me how am I supposed to complete my 2016 claim and avoid exacerbating the problems. I was told to write a covering letter and append it to my 2016 claim stating that I had been forced to complete the 2016 claim before being advised of the 2015 claim outcome and that if issues arose with my claim this letter could be referred to.


I am very concerned about proceeding on this basis - can they be trusted I can't afford to potentially lose 50% of my payment two years running - I can almost visualise the un-sympathetic letter telling me it's all my fault / responsibility to get it right!

 

[The Ruminant]

Has anyone else just been thrown out of the online application process? I have and it won't let me log back in, or rather it will but doesn't show any business info.
@RPA

 

[richard hammond]

Probably me being stupid but can I print off a whole blank BP5 form ?

 

[Meadow Brown]

I have held off attempting my 2016 claim until the outcome of my 2015 claim was resolved. I have been now been told by RPA that there are "issues" with my 2015 claim but they are awaiting the results of the inspection ( which took place in July) so cannot confirm what the "issues" are and whether or not they will impact on my payment. When I pointed out I had only received half my bridging payment, so about 25% of my total claim I was informed that where Inspection results are awaited the assumption is the inspection was failed and payments are made on this "worse case scenario". When I asked what I was supposed to do with my 2016 claim I was told to proceed on the basis of what I believed to be correct, this I told them, seemed on the evidence available, to have resulted in a 50% disallowance of my 2015 claim and as I don't know what the issue is and they won't or can't tell me how am I supposed to complete my 2016 claim and avoid exacerbating the problems. I was told to write a covering letter and append it to my 2016 claim stating that I had been forced to complete the 2016 claim before being advised of the 2015 claim outcome and that if issues arose with my claim this letter could be referred to.


I am very concerned about proceeding on this basis - can they be trusted I can't afford to potentially lose 50% of my payment two years running - I can almost visualise the un-sympathetic letter telling me it's all my fault / responsibility to get it right!

This is EXACTLY the reason why an extension is needed. The problems will just compound when BPS 2016 claims are made as there is insufficient information on which to base a solid thought out claim.

RPA are still doing updates (tonight 9-10pm) and Weds (8-9pm) in prime time for farmers and others working on claims that have taken a ridiculous amount of time. This is so near the deadline it's unbelievable!

 

[Funny Farmer]

The NFU say I don't need an extension - but it's me not them that's going to be left with a mess to sort out.

 

[Meadow Brown]

The NFU say I don't need an extension - but it's me not them that's going to be left with a mess to sort out.

Agree!
George Dunn of TFA said that EFRA Committee advised extending deadline to allow accurate and timely applications to be made.

 

[yellow belly]

I have held off attempting my 2016 claim until the outcome of my 2015 claim was resolved. I have been now been told by RPA that there are "issues" with my 2015 claim but they are awaiting the results of the inspection ( which took place in July) so cannot confirm what the "issues" are and whether or not they will impact on my payment. When I pointed out I had only received half my bridging payment, so about 25% of my total claim I was informed that where Inspection results are awaited the assumption is the inspection was failed and payments are made on this "worse case scenario". When I asked what I was supposed to do with my 2016 claim I was told to proceed on the basis of what I believed to be correct, this I told them, seemed on the evidence available, to have resulted in a 50% disallowance of my 2015 claim and as I don't know what the issue is and they won't or can't tell me how am I supposed to complete my 2016 claim and avoid exacerbating the problems. I was told to write a covering letter and append it to my 2016 claim stating that I had been forced to complete the 2016 claim before being advised of the 2015 claim outcome and that if issues arose with my claim this letter could be referred to.


I am very concerned about proceeding on this basis - can they be trusted I can't afford to potentially lose 50% of my payment two years running - I can almost visualise the un-sympathetic letter telling me it's all my fault / responsibility to get it right!

all you can do is keep copies of information you send and pdf print out of the application send a covering letter
apply before the deadline as this will impact the payment
they need information on all your land area even if they have allocated you less entitlement
you can only be penalised for wrong land use areas and over claiming land areas
sorting out 2015 problems will get done eventually and allocating the correct number of entitlements can be corrected but applying after 15 may will result in a lower payment irispective who gets the blame for the late claim
there were many issues during the introduction of iacs and sfp it took time to get them sorted

 

[RPA]

RPA BPS 2016 Twitter Q&A - We’ll be hosting a live BPS 2016 Twitter Q&A this Thursday (12 May) from 6pm to support BPS 2016 applications #AskRPA Follow us @Ruralpay

 

[RPA]

BPS 2016 hints and tips:


Updated ‘Hints and Tips’ document

RPA is taking the questions farmers and agents are asking as they apply for their 2016 BPS, and turning them into a regularly updated helpful Hints and Tips document available at GOV.UK/rpa/bps2016.

It has been updated to include practical answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, including:

• The best web browsers for the Rural Payments service.
  
  
• What to do if land shows in the wrong region online.
  
  
• How to filter the ‘Land use’ screen so it is easier to make changes.
  
  
• How to claim on common-land grazing rights.
  
  
• What to do online when claiming land in dual use.
  
  
  Active farmer declaration
  
  BPS 2016 paper applicants are reminded to tick the ‘active farmer’ box before submitting their claim.

Declaring agricultural land

Applicants are reminded to declare all of the agricultural land on their holding when they apply. You can apply for BPS on as much of your eligible land as you want to – you don't need to match the area you apply for with the number of entitlements you hold.

There is no penalty if the eligible area of your holding you apply for is greater than the number of entitlements you actually hold. We will work out your payment based on the lower figure.

 

[RPA]

BPS 2016 – support

The RPA has a range of support features available to help remaining applicants submit their 2016 claims on time. These include a new ‘Hints and Tips’ video and guidance, a 24/7 automated service for applicants who have a paper application but want to apply online for first time, and the option for agents to speak directly to a dedicated team.

Online support centres

There are 14 online support centres open across the country.

Please check online at www.gov.uk/guidance/bps-2016 for full opening hours of your local centre. On 16 May – the last day for applying without penalty – they will be open until midnight. It is possible to walk in during the week but appointments are required at the weekends.

Rural Services helpline

Applicants can call the Rural Services helpline 03000 200 301, which is also open this Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 12.30pm,for help and advice including:

• 24/7 automated service for customers wanting to apply online rather than paper
  
  
• A dedicated support line for agents.
  

Videos and on screen help

A range of helpful videos and documents designed to make the application process as easy as possible can be found on GOV.UK.

There’s also a new ‘hints and tips’ video on the RPA YouTube channel. Other videos include advice on transferring land, transferring entitlements, changing land use and a general overview of how to apply online.

To make the online process easy to follow, step by step onscreen help is available throughout the application process and this useful guidance can also be printed off.

 

[yellow belly]

what do you do if you have rle1 sent in for example field amalgamation and land is still in query do you need to aply by paper or will the system allow you to fill in the old fields and aply with them