Prepaid money card for NI residents

avoniel

If as is suggested the executive give every household or adult a pre paid card to spend at a local business where would everyone spend theirs?

IrishSean

Butchers & greengrocers, keep the household costs down for Jan. If its as generous as they suggest I could build a lot of food supplies for early 2021 💪💰👌

donnac2558

In Jersey the scheme just let them use it on any shop in the high street.   Diane and Conor are saying it is to be used on the high street.  And will be £75-£100 depending, so the fantasy £200 is not happening.  So that should be any shop Dunnes, Boots, Tesco etc. 

I have never seen a greengrocers in Belfast?   We have fruit shops but they do not accept cards well the one I know doesn't.  I don't use the butchers do the independant ones accept cards? 

As for the prepaid card I want to be able to use it on any shop on the high street.

ballyblack

We have fruit shops but they do not accept cards well the one I know doesn't. 
no doubt they will lose out

donnac2558

Oh, what about the heating payment which is suppose to be £200.  Now only pensioners who get pension credit will get it all pensioners get the winter heating allowance so this will be on top for those who qualify.  Also those on higher benefits, not sure which those are?   ESA,PIP?

avoniel

i would prefer to spend it in local shops which have been effected most by the lockdown. Tesco M&S etc don’t need it in same way as small business which have been forced to lockdown again and again. 

donnac2558

There are so few local shops around now, co-op, mace, the spar is not really independent.  You buy from them they are big business.  I know some staff in my local co-op actually go and do their big shops at Tesco. The range sold is not varied enough for a full shop only bits and pieces.  Even the big names are closing down and getting rid of staff.

Hopefully, when we get the cards people can make a choice where they want to spend it.

Mnoee

donnac2558 said:

Oh, what about the heating payment which is suppose to be £200.  Now only pensioners who get pension credit will get it all pensioners get the winter heating allowance so this will be on top for those who qualify.  Also those on higher benefits, not sure which those are?   ESA,PIP?

It's: Pension Credit

the higher rate of Attendance Allowance

the highest rate care and/ or higher rate mobility element of Disability Living Allowance;

the enhanced rate daily living and/ or enhanced rate mobility element of Personal Independence Payment

From here: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/ni-chuilin-ps44m-covid-19-heating-payments-issue-by-january-2021 

qwert_yuiop

It’s a very blunt way to compensate the population. Anyone in a government job has not suffered financially. My teacher wife was off for months and her pay didn’t go down at all. I was out for two months, earning pretty much nothing, with plenty of the expenses of my business continuing.

Mnoee

Do you think those that had months off and in return earnt little/no money should be compensated more or less than the people who still worked in essential shops, or delivery drivers or in healthcare? How's about the people working from home, juggling kids who weren't at school at the same time, where do they stand in your opinion? 

I think a blunt approach is the fairest way. It'd be impossibly time consuming (and expensive!) to work it out on some sort of case by case basis. It's been a crap time for everyone, and I'm not going to complain about any 'free' money that's handed to me! 

qwert_yuiop

Just pointing out that it hasn’t been a crap time for everyone. I’ve never seen Herself look so chilled. Why should anyone get free money in a case like that?