The NI High Street Voucher Scheme will open for registration on 27th Sept 2021 with the first £100 pre-paid cards being issued on 4th Oct 2021.
The last day to apply is 25th Oct 2021, while the card has to be used before 30th Nov 2021.
For those unable to apply online, a telephone service will be available from 11th Oct 2021.
It is expected that people will receive their card between 7 and 10 days of applying.
It will have to be spent by 30th Nov 2021 as the Department for the Economy does not want to affect normal spending in the run-up to Christmas.
People must register online on NI Direct from 27th Sept 2021, then provide their name, address, date of birth, gender, any disability, National Insurance number, driving licence number (if held), telephone number, and email address.
The £145m programme will offer pre-paid cards worth £100 to all over-18s in Northern Ireland and aims to help those businesses in retail and hospitality which were hit by the pandemic.
Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA is encouraging people to spend the money in local independent retailers rather than with multinationals.
People can spend the money in any brick and mortar outlet, except the bookmakers, legal and some financial services.
The card can be used with a retailer or in hospitality in Northern Ireland that accepts cards as a method of payment.
The card can also be used to pay for goods over the phone or to purchase services from businesses, however you will not be able to purchase online service or products, to pay for financial services or to purchase legal services.
You cannot donate your card to a charity.
HOW TO APPLY:
Register online at NI Direct.
You will be asked for: name, address, date of birth, gender, any disability, National Insurance number, driving licence number (if held), telephone number, and email address.
Provided you have their permission you can register to complete an application for other people.
Once registered you will receive an email for confirmation. Information will be checked against the electoral register database followed by Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency. This is an automated process with no access to your personal information.
Once your identity has been confirmed the details required to complete the process will be sent to the pre-paid card provider and you will receive another email telling you when to expect your card.
If you are unsuccessful in the first phase of checks then your identity will be checked against a further suite of government databases. If you identity is confirmed then your details will be forwarded to the pre-paid card provider and you will receive a confirmation email. If your application is unsuccessful, you will be informed and directed to the appeals process.
The voucher must be spent by 30th Nov 2021.