THE Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2015 closes for all applications at midnight next Friday (10).
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on Tuesday said it had received 87,315 applications – 478 of them in the penalty period.
Farmers can still claim up to the deadline but lose one per cent of the value of their claim for every working day since the June 15th deadline.
The Agency has already emailed reminders to farmers who have not claimed and this week sent reminders to those not online. Farmers who do not apply in the first year of BPS lose their entitlements.
Those posting their forms are recommended to use a signed-for service, ensure they include all the necessary documents in the envelope, and use enough postage to cover the weight and size of the package.
Alternatively search 'find help to claim rural payments' at GOV.UK to find out about RPA drop-in centres, where hand-delivered forms will be accepted until 5pm on Friday, July 10.
The Rural Payments helpline is on 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here