The RPA publishes its 2016 payment targets and the NFU updates members on a range of 2015 and 2016 BPS issues.
These can found here. NFU Vice President Guy Smith said:
“My first reaction to this is to note the reiteration of the promise that 90% of claimants will paid by the end of the year which is reassuring and the NFU will continue to hold not just the RPA but more importantly Defra to that promise.
“However, I note to my horror that this document also says that only 93% will be paid by 31st March. That, in my book, is unacceptably bad service for thousands of claimants and we will be looking for an early bridging payment for those people.”
Mr Smith (above) also updated members on a range of BPS 2015 and 2016 issues during NFU Council.
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On 2015, payment completion remains a key focus for the NFU.
We are told that correction of ‘full’ payments is nearing completion. We continue to seek interest on payments issued after 30 June. Equally, our concerns remain around sorting out claims with common land, that includes Minchinhampton Case adjustments.
To help clear up the 2015 work stack, the RPA needs to recognise it has to provide data for our members to:
1) understand their claims ahead of 2017 application window and
2) also determine if they challenge and appeal decisions on claims they do not like. Understanding BPS is not easy, but poor communication has not helped anyone to this point.
In terms of BPS 2016, the NFU’s key focus is holding RPA to account on at least 90% full and accurate payments by 31 December, but also that claims with common land, cross border and inspection cases must be paid from 1 December. Key to this is understanding the progress of 2016 claims in the system and, critically, whether the RPA has the resources to deal with all the work it has on the desk at this time.
There are a number of encouraging signs to report, over 80% of claims submitted online, and less land and entitlements changes to process. Furthermore, that data capture from paper forms is nearly complete and processing of claims with common land / entitlement transfers / mapping issues / inspection report processing is happening.
There will be claims that do not need any more work, but our concerns are that, for those that need human input, has the RPA got enough resources for the next six months? It is good to hear from the RPA that whole case workers are being brought back for 2016 – an NFU lobbying win - but our members must not be disadvantaged on the back of 2015 problems when 2016 claims are processed.
The NFU is always concerned for those not paid in the initial waves of payments in the seven month payment window and clearly we want those not paid in December to be paid ASAP thereafter.