Guidance

Rural payments: ways to submit applications, claims and documents

Find out the different ways you can submit your applications, claims and documents, including supporting information and evidence

From:: Rural Payments Agency
Published: 11 February 2022
Last updated: 1 July 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

The information shows the different ways that you can submit applications, claims and documents to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) using:

Blank PDF
Online using the Rural Payments service
Existing email process
Email using PDF form
Paper by post

Relevant deadlines are also given.

Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2022 application

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

n/a

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May – submit without penalty
10 June – final submit deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
online: system confirmation, which customers should save for their records

Comments

no email route or online blank BP5 PDFs
prepopulated paper BP5s to be submitted via post (no drop-in centres available) – contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your application within 10 working days of sending it to us
16 May 2022 (midnight) – deadline for BPS 2022 applications without penalty (including Young and New Farmer applications for new entitlements and Young Farmer Payment application)
10 June 2022 (midnight) – deadline for late BPS 2022 applications (with penalty) and for making certain changes without penalty to a BPS application already submitted by midnight on 16 May

BPS continuation booklet (Parts C (field data sheet) and E (commons))

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

n/a

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

10 June

Receipt issued

We do not send confirmation receipts for any evidence we receive separately from the paper form

Comments

before posting any evidence to us, you should put your name and address on the front page, and your Single Business Identifier (SBI) on every page
there is no email route for PDFs, they must be submitted by post

New Farmer Application for new entitlements

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

n/a

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May: submit without penalty
10 June: final submit deadline

Receipt issued

Before posting any evidence to us, you should put your name and address on the front page, and your SBI on every page. We do not send confirmation receipts for any evidence we receive separately from the paper form. We will return any evidence to you by post, usually within 3 working days

Comments

16 May 2022 – deadline for BPS 2022 New Farmer applications for new entitlements and Young Farmer payment applications without penalty
supporting documents, such as the Young and New Farmer form and certificate, can be submitted without penalty up to 10 June
10 June 2022 – deadline for Young and New Farmer supporting information certificate for BPS application already submitted by midnight on 16 May

Hemp

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

n/a

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May or 30 June

Receipt issued

We do not send confirmation receipts for any evidence we receive separately from the paper form

Comments

As noted in the guidance, ‘Farmers must write their Single Business Identifier (SBI) on the official seed labels and send them to RPA’. We must receive seed labels by midnight on midnight on 16 May 2022 (or by 30 June 2022 with a supporting letter explaining why you were not able to sow hemp by 16 May 2022)

Death certificates / Grant of probate processes / Bank details

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

n/a

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes (except bank details)

Submission deadline in 2022

No deadline

Receipt issued

Before posting any evidence to us, you should put your name and address on the front page, and your SBI on every page (except for death certificates). We do not send confirmation receipts for any evidence we receive separately from the paper form. We will return any evidence to you by post, usually within 3 working days. Death certificates will be returned by recorded delivery

Comments

no timescale in relation to Death Certificates (DC) or Grant of Probate (GoP) – the online guidance asks for the RPA to be informed and then we will request sight of the DC / GoP
we cannot receive bank details by post or email – you must call us to tell us these

Entitlements Transfers

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes – RLE1

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May

Receipt issued

paper: we will send confirmation by post
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

eRLE1 PDF available and if you want to submit by email please use this version only.
only the person who holds the BPS entitlements at the deadline set in the scheme rules can use them to claim BPS in any given scheme year
the RLE1 deadline for entitlement transfers, to be eligible for 2022 payment, is 16 May

Land Transfers

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes – RLE1

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes (up to 16 May)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

10 June

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

eRLE1 PDF available and if you want to submit by email please use this version only – we cannot accept handwritten copies via email
land has to be at customers disposal on 16 May to be claimed in 2022
the RLE1 deadline for land transfers, to be eligible for 2022 payment, is 10 June
customers can put in land change requests all year around but if made during the payment period could affect eligibility and could cause an overpayment
we cannot accept RLE1s that are in .zip files, handwritten forms (via email), blank forms, incomplete forms (pages missing) or an RLE1 form containing other documents, for example, maps in the same single attachment – if the RLE1 does not meet any of these requirements, the RLE1 will be rejected

Add Land by email

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

n/a

Submission deadline in 2022

BPS: 2 May
Countryside Stewardship (CS): 30 June

Receipt issued

Email: Standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

use this to ensure land forming part of a claim is visible on the land use screen in the Rural Payments service
land used to apply for BPS in 2022 must be ‘at your disposal’ (only the person who has the land at their disposal on this date can use it to be paid for BPS in 2022)
if registering land for the first time, please complete an RLE1/e-RLE1 form

Land Tenure Changes

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Submission deadline in 2022

10 June

Receipt issued

email: Standard auto acknowledgement
online: System confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

use the BPS 2022 – Land tenure form if your holding type is shown incorrectly in the Rural Payments service as tenant or that less than 100% of the land parcel is owned
the transferee must notify RPA of the extra land they want to declare/claim by the final 10 June deadline for adding land parcels to their application, and the transferor has not attempted to claim on the same land

CS Organic Declaration evidence

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

10 June

Receipt issued

Comments

Any CS organic agreement holders will need to supply the parcel schedule and organic certificate

CS Capital Claims

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

Deadlines as set out in your Agreement

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

CS Capital Grants Applications

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

No closing date

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
all applicants (including online) required to submit maps and any supporting documentation via email or paper
the CS capital offer will not have a closing date unless the budget allocation is exceeded – if this happens, we will publicise this date giving you 6 weeks’ notice on GOV.UK

CS Annual Revenue Claims

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

n/a

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May – Submit without reduction
31 May – Deadline for amendments
10 June - Final submit deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: we will send you confirmation by email to tell you we have received your form
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
blank claim forms can be provided by RPA on request
16 May 2022 (midnight) deadline for CS and Environmental Stewardship (ES) revenue claims without reduction
31 May 2022 (midnight) – deadline for making certain changes without reduction to a CS or ES revenue claim already submitted by midnight on 16 May
10 June 2022 (midnight) deadline for submitting or amending CS and ES claims, with reduction

CS Whole Business Declaration

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May – submit without penalty
10 June – final Submit deadline

Receipt issued

Comments

The Whole Business Declaration form is only required for agreements starting before 1 January 2021.

CS Rotational Claims and Annexes

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

n/a

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes, until 1 September

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

By 16 May where known or by 1 September as a final deadline

Receipt issued

Comments

None

CS Mid Tier Applications

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

29 July

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

application PDF and annex required, if application not completed online
application forms can be requested in the Rural Payments service until 5 July
online applications can be submitted until 29 July
all applicants (including online) required to submit maps and any supporting documentation via email or paper

CS Wildlife Offers

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

29 July

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

application PDF and annex required if not completed online
all applicants (including online) required to submit maps and any supporting documentation via email or paper

CS Higher Tier Applications

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

by 30 April for initial application
by 31 August to develop final application

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

application PDF and annex required
application forms can be requested using the Rural Payments service until 31 March
competitive scheme with applications scored and ranked
successful applicants must develop final application (with assistance of Natural England and/or Forestry Commission) by end of August
if your application includes woodland, you must have a Woodland Management Plan (WMP) approved, or approved in principle, by the Forestry Commission – you must have this by the initial application deadline (30 April)
you need to submit your draft WMP for approval by 31 December in the year before you submit your Higher Tier initial application so that you get the approval in time – you must make sure that any relevant tree felling consents are also in place for your WMP to be approved

CS Woodland Management Plan

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Application form available – annex must be requested from RPA

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes – annex should be in Excel format

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

No deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
all applicants required to submit maps, annex and any supporting documentation via email or paper

CS Woodland Tree Health

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Application form available – annex must be requested from RPA

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes – annex should be in Excel format

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

No deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
all applicants required to submit maps and any supporting documentation via email or paper

CS Protection and Infrastructure

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Application form available

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

No deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
all applicants required to submit maps and any supporting documentation via email or paper

ES Capital Claims

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

Deadlines as set out in your Agreement

Receipt issued

Comments

We aim to pay within 30 days, but where not possible we would contact Agreement Holders to advise/seek further information.

ES Annual Revenue Claims

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

16 May – submit without penalty
10 June – final submit deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement
online: system confirmation which customers should save for their records

Comments

contact us if you have not received an acknowledgement for your paper application within 10 working days of sending it to us
16 May 2022 (midnight) – deadline for CS and ES revenue claims without reduction
31 May 2022 (midnight) – deadline for making certain changes without reduction to a CS or ES revenue claim already submitted by midnight on 16 May
10 June 2022 (midnight) deadline for submitting or amending CS and ES claims, with reduction

Lump Sum Query form

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Yes

Submit by email using PDF form

Yes

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

No deadline

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
email: standard auto acknowledgement

Comments

we will respond to your query once we have been able to review it - we will then write to you explaining what action we may or may not need to take, and explain the reasons
you’ll receive a response after your statement query has been reviewed. If we do not need to take any further action we’ll explain why. If we need to take further action, we’ll confirm what we’ve done and the effect this has had on the original statement by scheme year
if you have another statement query that you have not already told RPA about, you will need to fill in and submit a new query form

Lump Sum Exit Scheme application

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Yes

Submit using existing email submission process

Submit by email using PDF form

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline in 2022

30 September

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form
online: system confirmation which you should save for your records

Comments

applications can only be accepted through Rural Payments or by post - applications sent to us through email will be rejected

Lump Sum Exit Scheme Entitlements and Evidence form

Blank PDF available on GOV.UK

Yes

Submit online in the Rural Payments service (preferred route)

Submit using existing email submission process

Submit by email using PDF form

Submit on paper by post using original paper documents (written signature required)

Yes

Submission deadline

31 May 2024

Receipt issued

paper: we will send you confirmation by post to tell you we have received your form

Comments

forms sent to us through email will be rejected. We can only accept this form through the post as we require genuine ‘wet’ signatures from both the applicant and the Agricultural Valuer or Solicitor appointed by the applicant confirming they have seen the evidence required at this stage of the process

Published 11 February 2022
Last updated 1 July 2022 + show all updates

1 July 2022
Added information for the Lump Sum Query form, Lump Sum Exit Scheme application and Lump Sum Exit Scheme Entitlements and Evidence form.
11 February 2022
First published.

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