NI High Street Voucher: How long can it take to get spend local card and what to do if you haven't received it

There have been 1.43 million applications for the High Street Voucher Scheme so far, but how long will it take to receive your Spend Local card?
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The £100 spend local card was eligible for all permanent residents in Northern Ireland over the age of 18.

The voucher scheme is hoped to give a vital boost to business impacted by the pandemic and bring people back into our towns and cities, after a turbulent 18 months for retailers.

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On Monday, October 25, the application portal officially closed, with over 1.43 million applicants.

So far, 1.2 million applicants have been approved and those whose details cannot be verified have been contacted by the the Department of Economy via email.

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Northern Ireland High Street Voucher Scheme: How to apply and who is eligible

How people are still waiting for their Spend Local Card?

It's estimated that 10,000 people are still waiting for their Spend Local Card.

How long does it take to get your spend local card?

The Department of Economy have stated that you should receive you Spend Local card after 7-10 days of applying.

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But, due to the high number of applications, there have been delays, with some people waiting weeks.

The Department of Economy have asked for patience and have reassured residents that, 'the majority of successful applicants should have a minimum of four weeks to use their cards.'

What to do if you haven't received your voucher?

If you have had confirmation that your application was successful and haven't received your Spend Local Card by Monday, November 1, 2021, the Department of Economy have recommended emailing [email protected].

In your email include information of when you applied for your voucher and when you received confirmation your application was approved.

When is the deadline to use the cards?

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The deadline has once again been extended to Sunday, December 19, 2021.

How to check balance on spend local card

You can check your balance of your card or review your spending history here. Simply login to view this information by using your card details.

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