As the USDA Farm Service Agency works to complete the Wildfires and Hurricane Indemnity Program+ (WHIP+) sign-up process, growers are encouraged to ensure that all of their eligible losses are included in currently pending applications or were properly included in previously submitted claims.
The WHIP+ sign-up period officially ended October 30; however, USDA FSA county offices were given the authority to create a register of producers who had not yet had their applications started to ensure that no eligible producers were inadvertently left out of the program. As a result, FSA offices continue to process WHIP+ applications for eligible producers.
Because of the unique nature of the WHIP+ program and the extended sign-up process, USDA FSA also has been asked to clarify information about various program eligibility and process questions. Some of the revised guidance provided throughout this process may have altered previously understood assumptions and it is important for growers to ensure that applications, regardless of their being previously completed or still in process, are complete include all eligible losses based on the most recent information available.
One of the common misunderstandings among producers initially was that an insurable loss had to have occurred in order to qualify for WHIP+ benefits. This was never the case, however, and the WHIP+ program actually provides benefits for any eligible loss below the WHIP+ guarantee percentage associated with the level of crop insurance that was purchased on the farm.
Another misunderstanding is that the stated cause of loss on an insurance loss record or reported by the producer when an insurable loss did not occur on a particular unit, had to exactly match either the ‘drought’ or ‘excessive moisture’ causes referenced as primary causes of loss in the WHIP+ rules. The WHIP+ program actually covers a broad range of losses from conditions related to the primary causes noted above.
Eligible causes of loss from related conditions are identified in the WHIP+ rules and also include causes of loss defined in the rules associated with the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).
“The bottom-line advice for producers in regard to WHIP+ is that there are a broad array of eligible causes of loss that can trigger benefits under WHIP+ and an underlying crop insurance claim is not a prerequisite for eligibility,” notes PCG Chief Executive Officer Steve Verett.
Due to the extended nature of the WHIP+ process and the various clarifications that have been issued, producers who have already completed the WHIP+ application process but are unsure if all of their eligible crops and loses were included in the calculations, are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to verify that their initial application was complete and determine if additional steps may be needed to complete or revise their application under the most recent guidance.