The booklet provides guidance for anyone wishing to claim for HFA 2009. It must be read in conjunction with the SPS Handbook and Guidance for England 2008 and the How to complete your SP5 application form booklets. We advise applicants to read these before completing a claim.

European Commission regulations require completed SPS 2008 forms – on which the claim for HFA 2009 is made – to be received by RPA no later than 15 May 2008.

Applications received after this date, but before midnight on 9 June 2008, will be accepted but penalties will be applied.

Any applications received after 9 June will be rejected.

Copies of the booklet can be requested from the RPA customer service Centre (CSC) on telephone number: 0845 603 7777. Opening hours are from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. Customers calling the CSC are advised to have their Single Business Identifier (SBI) number to hand when they call.