RPA issues new query form for BPS underpayments

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has issued a payment query form aimed at farmers who feel they have been underpaid through the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in either 2015 or 2016.

The two-page form is available on the RPA’s website and can either be returned by post or emailed to ruralpayments@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

An RPA spokesman said the form was for new queries on the amount paid under the BPS and customers who had already asked the agency to look at their claim again did not need to fill in the form.

See also: NFU survey highlights ongoing 2015 BPS woes 

“Ensuring farmers can submit BPS payment queries in one standard form will simplify processing and help speed up payments to farmers,” he said.

“Using the form will ensure RPA has all required information, reducing the need to go back to applicants and meaning queries can be resolved more quickly.”

Avoid duplication

The NFU said it expected most queries to be related to 2016 BPS claims, as previous complaints should already be logged with the RPA.

“Furthermore, the RPA says you should only fill in the new enquiry form once a review of the claim statement and check of relevant scheme guidance has taken place. Also, referring to the copy of the claim submitted is critical.

“Clearly if these sources of information do not help, then contacting the RPA is the obvious way forward to get answers needed.

“What the NFU and RPA do not want is a duplication of queries in the system, by those with historical logged concerns now filling out the new enquiry form. 

“However, clearly, if there is doubt that the RPA has a case on their radar, then this new form would be a way forward.”

Check previous correspondence

George Paton of land agents WebbPaton said there would be some instances where farmers might think they had reported an underpayment to the RPA, but they might need to be more specific.

“So many farmers wrote a letter saying they thought they had been unpaid but didn’t really spell out why.

“People need to study a copy of their letter and see if they actually told the RPA where they think the mistake was made. If they didn’t, then I would fill out the form.”

Mr Paton said he would advise every farmer to check their 2016 payment statement against their claim statement to see if they thought their payment was correct.

However, it was particularly vital for anyone who was either underpaid in 2015 or used paper continuation sheets in 2016.

“I would think that anyone who was underpaid in 2015 has probably been underpaid in 2016,” he said 

“Also, in our office, 100% of people who submitted paper continuation sheets in 2016 have been underpaid as a lot of the sheets do not appear to have been processed.”

“However, everyone should really be checking. You can’t assume that the payments are right.”