Guidance

Find help to claim rural payments

If you're a farmer registering online for rural payments or applying for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), there's support available - including drop-in centres where you can drop off your application.

From:
Rural Payments Agency
Published
19 December 2014
Last updated
16 June 2015 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on

This page has been archived as the application window for the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme closed on 10 July. For more information read Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

Applies to England

It’s not too late to apply for BPS this year

Even though the application deadline of 15 June has passed, you can still apply for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) until 10 July. However, every working day:

  • late BPS applications lose 1% of their value
  • late applications for entitlements lose 3% (this applies only to payments related to the new entitlements)
  • late applications for the young farmer payment lose 1% (this applies only to the value of the young farmer payment, not the main BPS payment)

Applications received after midnight on 10 July 2015 will be rejected.

To get help to claim Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) (and to register for rural payments online) you can:

RPA drop-in centres

RPA have set up drop-in centres across England where you can:

  • hand in your BPS application form, RLE1 forms and other documents
  • get a receipt
  • get help to register online

They can do a basic check of your application form(s) to make sure you’ve:

  • included your SBI number
  • included land data
  • filled in the active farmer section
  • signed it

They can’t answer detailed questions about your individual application or advise you about what to claim payment for.

You need to book an appointment if you’re an agent with 5 or more claims.

Find your nearest drop-in centre

Drop in centres are open at RPA’s 6 main offices:

Town Address
Carlisle Eden Bridge House, Lowther Street, Carlisle, CA3 8DX
Exeter Sterling House, Dix’s Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA
Newcastle Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle, NE4 7YH
Reading Northgate House, Reading, RG1 1AF
Workington Curwen Road, Workington, CA14 2DD
York Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York,YO1 7PX

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Book an appointment

You must book an appointment if you need help to register online.

To book an appointment call the Rural Payments helpline on 03000 200 301.

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (closed on weekends).

Mobile support units

RPA also has 10 mobile support units which will travel around the country. These offer a similar service to the drop-in centres and give you help to get online and register for rural payments.

If you’ve already told RPA you’ll need extra help to register (because you live in a remote area or can’t get to a drop-in centre due to a disability), they will call you to arrange a home visit.

Other organizations which can help you register

There are also a number of other organizations (PDF, 37.4 KB, 2 pages) across the country that can help you register online.

Find an agent

The following trade associations can tell you about agents in your area who can help you make a claim. Agents charge for this service.

Updates to this page

Published 19 December 2014
Last updated 16 June 2015 + show all updates

  1. Updated to remind readers that it's not too late to apply for BPS.

  2. Updated Drop-in Centre opening times

  3. Added additional Mobile Support Unit available on 12 June at Lyndhurst Community Centre

  4. Updated the opening times for Drop-in Centres

  5. Updated to cover next week and 15th June opening times.

  6. Updated opening times information in the Drop in Center document.

  7. Opening times updated for Penrith and Chelmsford offices.

  8. Updated opening times for Drop-in Centres

  9. updated page and removed graphic

  10. Thirsk and Sollihull Drop in Centres information updated to show open 30/31 May, 9am - 3pm

  11. Added visit to Kington on 11 June 2015

  12. List of auction mart's updated and opening time to Reading drop-in-centre

  13. RPA Main sites opening hours updated to include Saturday/Sunday opening times

  14. Opening times have been amended with latest opening hours.

  15. Added more Mobile Support Centre locations

  16. Added bank holiday opening times

  17. Update to location for auction mart at Kington

  18. Drop-in centre, mobile support units and auction mart details updated

  19. More dates added to mobile support units being available at auction markets

  20. Changes to opening times to the Solihull and Warrington offices

  21. Updated the RPA support centre list - The Environment Agency office in Spalding is now by appointment only. Amendment to the addresses for the Bristol and Tauton offices. Opening hours for the Solihull and Warrington offices amended.

  22. Updated - removed assistance by Cosmic as workshops are no longer available.

  23. Added latest mobile support centres locations.

  24. Updated opening and closing times for support centers at: Blandford Bodmin Farnham Ipswich Kelvedon Leeds Peterborough Preston Skipton Spalding Taunton Thirsk Crewe Solihull

  25. Added link to new online map showing RPA Support Centres

  26. Updated some of the opening times

  27. Updated with locations and opening times of RPA support centres

  28. Updated to reflect the new way to apply for the Basic Payment Scheme.

  29. First published.

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