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<p>In 2015 the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offered a hardship fund to help farmers
with delayed payments and in financial need.</p><p> </p><p>For 2016, the RPA began
making Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments when the payment window opened on 1 December.
On 13 December the Agency announced that it had made payments, worth £8<del class="ministerial">8</del>2<ins
class="ministerial">2</ins> million, to approximately 68% (around 59,000) of eligible
claimants with a range of claim types and sizes, including those inspected and with
common land. The RPA remains focused on paying 90% of eligible claims by the end of
the month.</p><p> </p><p>The RPA is working with a range of farming help organisations
such as the Farming Community Network and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Should the
RPA need to make use of BPS Financial Support Payments to deal with hardship cases
it will do so.</p><p> </p>
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