More than 65 per cent of farmers have received their 2018
Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) money in the first day
of the payment window (3 December), according to latest
figures from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). At least 90 per cent
of payments are on track to be made by the end of December.
Payments on 3 December were made to 55,179 of eligible
claimants, worth more than £853.6 million in total. These
include a range of 2018 BPS claim types and
sizes.
RPA Chief
Executive, Paul Caldwell, said:
We know how important payments are to farmers and their
businesses. We’ve worked hard to make significant
progress compared with last year’s performance and we
remain focused on getting remaining payments into bank
accounts as soon as possible.
BPS payments
are made direct to bank accounts via BACS transfer so
farmers should make sure the RPA has the most
up-to-date account details. Once a payment has been made a
remittance advice is sent in the post, confirming the
amount paid. Claim statements will also be sent, explaining
how payments have been worked out.
Support
Further information on BPS 2018, including
scheme rules and details of how payments are calculated
is available here.
Stopping fraudulent activity
Claimants are also urged to remain vigilant against fraud.
They should remember:
- Your bank, police or the RPA will never ask you
to reveal your online password, PIN or bank account details
or ask you to make a payment over the telephone.
- Never disclose personal information to someone you
don’t know or open unknown or unexpected computer links or
emails.
- If in doubt, call the organisation back, ideally on a
different telephone, using a number you are familiar with
or you know to be official. You can find this on the
organisation’s website, correspondence or statement.
Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 without delay for
advice and to register your concern
