May 2023

Revenue-Based Disaster and 

Pandemic Assistance Programs

Myth Busters

Emergency Relief Program Phase Two (ERP)

Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP)

Introduction:

The deadline to apply for FSA’s new revenue-based 

programs that provide assistance for revenue 

losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the 

COVID-19 pandemic is quickly approaching.

Both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 

Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue 

Program (PARP) offer a holistic approach to 

disaster assistance and provide economic support 

for producers who bear the financial brunt of 

circumstances beyond their control. 

Producers may be eligible for assistance through 

ERP Phase Two if they experienced revenue losses 

from eligible natural disasters in 2020 and 2021. 

Producers may be eligible for PARP if they 

experienced revenue losses in calendar year 2020 

due to price loss or lack of market access.

The deadline for PARP and ERP Phase Two has 

been extended to July 14, 2023. With the 

deadline quickly approaching, it’s important to 

clear up confusion about how to apply and what 

documents are required for participation.

Now, let’s do some myth busting!

MYTH

1 ERP Payments

THE MYTH:

“I cannot receive an ERP Phase 

Two payment if I received a 

payment under Phase One.”

HERE’S THE TRUTH:

It’s possible that producers can still receive ERP Phase Two 

benefits if they received an ERP Phase One payment. There is 

also a possibility that your Phase Two payment may be offset.
2 MYTH BUSTERS: REVENUE-BASED DISASTER AND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

MYTH

2

ERP Phase Two is an 

Additional Payment

THE MYTH:

“ERP Phase Two was intended to be 

an additional payment to those who 

received payment under Phase One.” 

HERE’S THE TRUTH:

ERP Phase Two was never designed or intended to be an 

additional payment. Instead, it was intended to capture those 

producers who did not receive relief in Phase One.

MYTH

3 Tax Returns

THE MYTH:

“I need to submit a completed tax 

return to FSA to apply for ERP 

Phase Two or PARP.”

HERE’S THE TRUTH:

While these programs are based on revenue losses, 

producers do not need a tax return, completed or otherwise, 

to apply for assistance. In fact, we have an ERP Phase 2 tool 

on fsa.usda.gov/erp and PARP tool on farmers.gov/parp that 

walk you through the process step by step. 

We understand that producers may have questions for their 

certified public accountant or tax preparer, who was likely 

hard to reach prior to the April 18 Internal Revenue Service 

tax deadline but we encourage producers to download 

the program decision tools and get started. Producers will 

probably discover that they already have, on hand, much of 

the information they need. 

The following supporting materials will help:

• Schedule F (Form 1040); and

• Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for 

tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 for ERP and 

for calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020 for PARP. 

The only reason producers might have to provide their tax 

returns to FSA is in the event of a spot check or a request 

from the FSA County Committee.
MYTH BUSTERS: REVENUE-BASED DISASTER AND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 3

MYTH

4 Insurance

THE MYTH:

“The required insurance 

coverage for two years 

will cost more than my 

projected payments.”

HERE’S THE TRUTH:

While this is a possibility depending on a producer’s projected 

payment amount, but producers won’t know for sure until inquiring 

about one or both programs and determining which program might 

best address their losses. 

For underserved producers, FSA recently made a change to the 

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) that allows a 

producer’s certification on Form CCC-860 Socially Disadvantaged, 

Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher 

Certification to serve as an application for basic NAP coverage for all 

eligible crops beginning with crop year 2022. These producers will 

have all NAP-related service fees for basic coverage waived, in 

addition to a 50% premium reduction for higher levels of coverage. 

Crops that are not eligible for crop insurance or NAP are still eligible 

for ERP Phase Two, but producers must obtain Whole Farm Revenue 

Protection or Micro Farm policy to meet linkage requirements.

MYTH

5 Application Process

THE MYTH:

“The application process is 

complicated.”

HERE’S THE TRUTH:

FSA worked extremely hard to reduce producer burden by 

streamlining the application process to allow producers to 

self-certify their losses. Let’s hear what fellow producers are 

saying about the application process.

Ron Eubank, a farmer and rancher in Hill County, Texas, 

recently applied for ERP Phase Two and PARP. “I think there 

are a lot of misconceptions out there about this being very 

difficult,” said Eubank. “It’s not that difficult. If I can do it, 

anyone can do it.” 

Larry Degner, a fellow Hill County producer who participated 

in PARP agrees. “It has a lot of bad reviews because 

everybody thinks it’s so complicated to do,” said Degner. “It’s 

a simple deal. You don’t have to disclose a lot of information.” 

Visit https://youtu.be/I1Cyfbzosvc to view the full video 

testimonials directly from Ron Eubank and Larry Degner. 

Producers interested in ERP Phase Two and PARP, should 

reach out to their local USDA Service Center or the FSA call 

center at 877-508-8364 to inquire and request assistance. 
4 MYTH BUSTERS: REVENUE-BASED DISASTER AND PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Stay connected and learn more about these new programs.

• Emergency Relief Website: fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-relief

• Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program Website: farmers.gov/parp

• ERP Phase Two and PARP Translated Resources: farmers.gov/translations

• Find Your Local Service Center: farmers.gov/service-center-locator

• Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @farmersgov

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