BPS Payments 2020 – What you should know

Payments for the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme are being paid out as you read this, with more than 95% of farmers in England having received their scheme money on the 1st December, resulting in a staggering £1.67bn being paid on the first day of the payment window.

Despite the challenges presented this year by the coronavirus pandemic, the RPA have said they are on track to achieve their best-ever payment performance.

https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/payments-schemes/bps/more-than-95-of-farmers-paid-bps-cash-in-england

With these monies entering your bank account over the festive season, remember to always be vigilant of fraudulent activity.

Preventing fraudulent activity

• The RPA will never ask for bank account details, payments or passwords over the phone
• Be cautious of incoming emails, do not open any unfamiliar computer links or emails
• Never disclose personal data to someone you don’t know
• If in doubt, call the organisation back using their official contact number which can be found on their website or correspondences
• Fraudsters can be convincing and forceful, so stay alert

Entitlement payment rates confirmed

A total of £233.216 per hectare for Non-SDA (Non-Severely Disadvantaged) land in England has been confirmed, which includes the Greening element.

Upon receiving the ‘2020 Claim Statement’ which follows shortly after payment has been made, farmers can now ensure their total Basic Payment sum is as expected.

Be sure to check the claim statement thoroughly and identify if any penalties have been applied. If you are not in agreement with the sum received, then this should be challenged with the RPA using a payment query form.

Full table of rates as follows:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/basic-payment-scheme-2020-entitlement-values-and-greening-rates

Payment query form

The RPA are unable to answer payment queries over the phone due to having to investigate the query further for a confirmed outcome.

If you belive your payments to be wrong, a payment query form should be drawn up and submitted to the RPA explaining why you believe there is an error in payment workings. It is important to give as much detailed information as possible to build the case and to ensure the RPA fully understand the situation.

Please be aware that investigations can be lengthy and an answer may not be received for months, however it is always worth questioning and gaining an outcome, especially if calculations have been wrongly worked and additional payment is owed.

Payment query form:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/900989/PA_Query_Form_-_ppa_v.7.0.pdf