The Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers is a payment made to farmers under the age of 40 who are educated in agriculture to help them succeed in farming. It can be paid for up to 5 years.

To qualify for the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers, you must:

• Have submitted a valid 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability application under a herd number on which the applicant is included, hold at least 1 payment entitlement or part thereof and be entitled to payment under BISS;
• Be aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an application under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers;
• Be setting up a holding as head of the holding, solely or jointly, for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of an application under the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers;
• Have successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at Level 6 or equivalent on the National Framework of Qualifications by 15th May 2026;
• S/he applies for inclusion under the 2026 Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers by;

a) for new applicants submitting an application online via iNet;

b) Existing Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers participants eligible to apply for continued participation in the scheme in 2026, should ensure that s/he indicates their intent to apply for the scheme on the 2026 BISS online application. A thumbs up icon will indicate an application for the new scheme. In the event the Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers option is not available on the 2026 BISS application for an applicant eligible for continued participation in the scheme, the applicant must submit an application online via the separate CISYF application facility online via iNet

c) for applicants for whom there has been a change of registration to the herd number – submitting an application online via iNet.