New service aids single payment transfers
Following the death of a farmer, urgent issues to be dealt with are changing the herd number, herdkeeper registration, payment of any outstanding monies due to the deceased, and the transfer of single payment entitlements.
Dealing with the new centralised inheritance enquiry unit in the single payment section removes the need to make contact with multiple areas of the department. The unit will assist the legal representatives of the deceased to:
* Identify schemes in which the deceased person participated, and establish if there are any outstanding payments due to the deceased.
* Assist in contacting various sections of the department, such as the District Veterinary Office.
* Advise on what legal documents are required, principally the will and grant of probate, or — where no will exists — letters of administration and a solicitor’s letter confirming the administrator of the estate.
Other documents such as death certificates, etc, may be required in support of claims.
Additional aspects relating to forestry contracts may have to be dealt with by the forest service, before arrears of payments are released.
* Make arrangements for issue of any outstanding payments.
The inheritance enquiry unit will be a single repository for legal documentation submitted by representatives of the deceased, thus removing the need for forwarding duplicate copies to several sections within the Department.
A short information leaflet outlining the functions of the Inheritance Enquiry Unit is available on the Department’s website www.agriculture.gov.ie and from Local Offices of the Department.
