Introduction
Everything you need to know about BPS 2022– including the scheme rules, cross compliance guidance and information about how to apply online - will be on the BPS 2022 guidance page on GOV.UK
The deadline for us to receive your application is midnight on 16 May 2022.
We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible and well before the deadline. Read the ‘Key Dates for BPS 2022’ for more information.
You can submit a late application after 16 May 2022 but penalties will apply. We cannot accept any applications after midnight on 10 June 2022, unless it is accepted due to force majeure and exceptional circumstances.
For more information about the ‘key dates’ of the scheme, including how to change your application after the deadline, read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’.
There are 4 things you need to do.
- Check your information
- Change anything that needs to be updated
- Complete your declarations
- Confirm your information and apply
If you think there is a difference between the amount you were expecting to be paid for BPS 2021, or previous BPS years, and what you’ve received, or that your entitlements balance is incorrect, we recommend you:
- fill in a BPS payment query form and return it to us by email (use ‘BPS payment query form’ as the subject header) or post it to us. If you have already sent us a query form for 2021 or a previous scheme year, you do not need to send us another one.
- carry on with your 2022 application, declaring your land as it is on 16 May 2022. You should use the code of the main crop you intend to grow in the year even if it will be late sown, or declare it as fallow if you do not intend to sow a main crop. Read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’ for more information.
If you had a site visit (inspection) in 2021 and aren’t sure what to declare on your 2022 application
You need to make sure you take the results of your site visit (inspection) into account when you apply – for example, by updating your land use and making sure mapping changes have been made (or that we have received an RLE1 form requesting them). You can do this by checking your digital maps on the Rural Payments service – see Annex 1 for more information.
If you have not had your site visit (inspection) results yet, you can still apply, showing your land at 16 May 2022. You should use the code of the main crop you intend to grow in the year even if it will be late sown or declare it as fallow if you do not intend to sow a main crop – read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022 for more information.
If you receive a 2021 site visit (inspection) report after you have submitted your 2022 application, you can make some changes to your application up to midnight on 10 June 2022 without getting a penalty (as long as you submitted your application by midnight on 16 May 2022). Some changes can also be made after 10 June 2022.
However, you can’t make these changes if:
- you have already been told about any non-compliance affecting the agricultural parcel you want to amend
- a check has revealed a non-compliance affecting the agricultural parcel you want to amend
- you have received advance warning of a site visit (inspection).
Read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’ for more information.
If you are unsure about whether you can make the change, you should request it by email and we will decide if it is allowed.
If you haven’t received a BPS payment for a previous year and/or claim statement yet and aren’t sure what to apply for.
You need to make your application for 2022 showing your land at 16 May 2022. You should use the code of the main crop you intend to grow in the year even if it will be late sown or declare it as fallow if you do not intend to sow a main crop – read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’ for more information.
If you receive a payment and claim statement after you have submitted your 2022 application, you can make some changes to your application up to midnight on 10 June 2022 without getting a penalty (as long as you submitted your application by midnight on 16 May 2022). Some changes can also be made after 10 June 2022.
However, you can’t make these changes if:
- you have already been told about any non-compliance affecting the land parcel you want to amend
- a check has revealed a non-compliance affecting the land parcel you want to amend
- you have received advance warning of a site visit (inspection)
Read the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’ for more information.
All the guidance and information you need is on the BPS 2022 guidance page, including:
- the Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022
- the list of land use codes for BPS 2022
- the form to apply for entitlements under the ‘Young and new farmer’ rules or to prove you’re eligible for the young farmer payment if applying for the first time, or if you have previously applied but your business structure has since changed.
- the cross compliance rules for 2022
- Rural Land and Entitlements (RLE1) form and guidance
Remember, it’s your responsibility to make sure that:
- you meet the scheme rules
- all the eligible land included in your application is correct, to the best of your knowledge
- you hold the correct number of entitlements. Refer to the ‘Basic Payment Scheme: rules for 2022’ for more information about entitlements.
If you hold an Environmental Stewardship or Countryside Stewardship agreement or an agreement with the Forestry Commission, you can also refer to the separate guidance on applying for payment on land in BPS and in an agri-environment or woodland agreement.
You can find guidance for the Forestry Commission schemes and BPS in the Forestry Commission’s ‘Guidance on woodland grant schemes and BPS: operations note 42’. You can also read the guidance for BPS and Agri-environment schemes.