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03/11/2021
Deadline For High Street Voucher Scheme Extended
The deadline to spend the £100 high street voucher scheme card has been extended until 14 December, NI's Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed.
The scheme saw all those aged over 18 in NI eligible for a £100 pre-paid card to spend to support local businesses which were affected by Covid.
The card was previously valid until 30 November.
Speaking to the Assembly Mr Lyons said: “It remains the case that most people have four weeks to spend their card, but I recognise that this will not be the case for everyone.
"Therefore, in order to offer these applicants a fair timescale to use their card, I can announce that I am extending the deadline to use the Spend Local cards by two weeks - from 30 November to 14 December.”
Around 160,000 people personal details could not be verified by databases.
Mr Lyons continued: "None of these applicants have been rejected and every one of them has been given an opportunity to submit evidence that they live in Northern Ireland and are over 18 years old.
"The Assembly can be assured that we are applying maximum flexibility on the information that can be provided to confirm they are eligible for a Spend Local card."
He said that it looked as if around 98% of the people whose details could not be verified would get their application approved.
The scheme saw all those aged over 18 in NI eligible for a £100 pre-paid card to spend to support local businesses which were affected by Covid.
The card was previously valid until 30 November.
Speaking to the Assembly Mr Lyons said: “It remains the case that most people have four weeks to spend their card, but I recognise that this will not be the case for everyone.
"Therefore, in order to offer these applicants a fair timescale to use their card, I can announce that I am extending the deadline to use the Spend Local cards by two weeks - from 30 November to 14 December.”
Around 160,000 people personal details could not be verified by databases.
Mr Lyons continued: "None of these applicants have been rejected and every one of them has been given an opportunity to submit evidence that they live in Northern Ireland and are over 18 years old.
"The Assembly can be assured that we are applying maximum flexibility on the information that can be provided to confirm they are eligible for a Spend Local card."
He said that it looked as if around 98% of the people whose details could not be verified would get their application approved.
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