Rural Payments

The Single Application Form (SAF) allows the Scottish Government's Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) to administer Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support. It is the form that farmers and crofters must submit to claim payments under a number of different schemes. With the window for SAF 2018 digital application process opening on Thursday, 15 March, the Scottish Government is encouraging farmers and crofters to submit their SAF application online because: • The yAF digital application process is straightforward, more efficient and provides access to the most up-to-date land information • The process also reduces the risk of inadvertently making application errors and incurring penalties • The ycottish Government is offering farmers and crofters applying under the SAF in 2018 more support to help them make the switch to apply online. Farmers and crofters can access the SAF at www.ruralpayments. org from Thursday 15 March Case Study Chris Murray “I’m Chris Murray and I have a croft in Sutherland where I run a herd of suckler cows along with some sheep which I’ve recently introduced to improve grazing quality. “I submit my Single Application Form (SAF) online and find the online submission process to be a positive one. It’s not a difficult system to use and a key advantage is that the online system highlights any errors, allowing you to make corrections, before submitting your application on time. “With a paper SAF you risk submitting your application with errors, without realising, which may result in penalties being applied. The online process is more efficient compared to the paper application and is helped by having access to your most up-todate land information with all your field identifiers and land areas visible. “I have also benefited from the excellent support I’ve had from the Rural Payments and Inspections Division’s (RPID) Golspie office, who were able to access and view my draft application online and assist when I needed to query an element of the application form. “I would definitely recommend doing your SAF online given these advantages.” Supporting farmers and crofters to submit their SAF online With the window for the Single Application Form (SAF) 2018 opening on Thursday, 15 March, it has never been easier to apply for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding online. The digital process is straightforward, more efficient and provides access to the most up-to-date land information. The process also reduces the risk of inadvertently making application errors and incurring penalties. The drive towards digital has been underway for several years and last year more farmers and crofters than ever before chose to make their application online, given the clear advantages of doing so. The Scottish Government appreciates that change can sometimes be challenging. That is why we are offering farmers and crofters applying under the SAF in 2018 more support to help them make the switch to applying online. This includes, for example, refreshed online guidance and regional events held this spring to demonstrate how to make an online application. To secure a place, customers who made a paper application last year can notify interest in attending one of these events by contacting their local RPID office. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting farmers and crofters across Scotland in delivering a better, more efficient service and encouraging all customers to submit their SAF online by 2020.

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