1 May 2016

More than 7,000 UK farmers have now been paid bridging payments of around 50% of likely Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2015 claim amounts. Together with over 90 percent of farmers who have received a full BPS payment, this means that all eligible farmers have now received a payment.

Announced two weeks ago, UK bridging payments to remaining farmers were made to help with cash flow pressures. All other claimants, in total more than 90%, have received their full claim payment by the end of April.

UK Rural Payments Agency (RPA) Chief Executive Mark Grimshaw said:

“These payments have been made by the end of April, as promised, to help remaining applicants facing financial pressures.

“With around 55% of anticipated 2016 claims already submitted or underway, we are helping those still to apply to meet the 16 May deadline.

All farmers should complete their application before the deadline even if they are waiting for the balance of the 2015 payment. Once verified, the system will automatically update their claim with any new information.”

The RPA helpline is open over the bank holiday weekend from 9am to 12.30pm to help farmers with claiming. Full help and guidance is available at GOV.UK/rpa/bps2016 and there are also 14 support centres that are open for walk in visits and pre-booked appointments - locations and opening times are on GOV.UK.