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Single Payment Scheme 2009 application forms
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has begun sending out application forms for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) 2009 to all English farmers and growers holding entitlements. Farmers who have not received a form by the end of March should call RPA’s Customer Service Centre (CSC).
The SPS 2009 form and the supporting guidance have been updated. Changes for this year include:
- End of Set-aside entitlements.
- End of National Reserve entitlements.
- Land growing permanent crops (including permanent fruit and vegetable crops, nursery crops and vines) and short rotation coppice can be used to activate existing entitlements.
- PC1 (Permanent Crops) crop code has been changed to OT1 (Other eligible crops).
Tony Cooper, RPA chief executive said: “Most of the form will be very familiar to farmers already claiming under the Single Payment Scheme. To make it as easy as possible to complete, it will include the information they gave us in last year’s claim. We do, of course, urge farmers or their agents to check all the information carefully before signing and returning the paper form. Sending us incorrect information will lead to delays in processing the forms, risks wrong payments being made and may, in the most serious cases, mean their claim cannot be paid at all.
“Farmers can post the forms to us or deliver them by hand to one of our 11 drop-in centres by 15 May 2009. Alternatively, farmers can submit their application form electronically using farm software provided by Paul Holiday Software Solutions or Farmplan.”
European Commission regulations require completed SPS 2009 forms to be received by RPA no later than 15 May 2009. Applications received after that date, but before midnight on 9 June 2009, will be accepted, but penalties will be applied. Applications received after 9 June 2009 will be rejected.
Notes to editors
1. A letter, guidance notes and reply envelope are enclosed with the application form.
- SPS Handbook and Guidance for 2009 (incorporating Area Payment for Nuts, Aid for Energy Crops, Protein Crop Premium and 2010 Hill Farm Allowance)
- How to complete your SP5 application form (incorporating Area Payment for Nuts, Aid for Energy Crops, Protein Crop Premium and 2010 Hill Farm Allowance)
- Sample (SP5) form
This guidance and a copy of this sample form can be found here.
2. Continuation sheets (additional blank field data sheets) are available by calling the Customer Service Centre (CSC) quoting the business name and Single Business Identifier (SBI).
3. Customers can contact: CSC on: 0845 603 7777.
Opening hours 8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Customers calling the CSC are recommended to have their Single Business Identifier (SBI) to hand when they call.
4. Drop-in centres will be open from 2 March 2009, further information available here.
5. Applications can be submitted electronically in 2009 using software provided by:
6. RPA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), providing a range of key services in support of the department’s objectives, including making rural payments, carrying out rural inspections, and livestock tracing.
Further information
Media contact only: Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680, caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
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