Are you challenged with increasing costs in South Australia? You are not alone— help is available. The Government of South Australia has invested almost one billion dollars in the cost of living relief during the last four budgets, which aims to supply targeted benefits to households that are under financial strain. Between cash payments and transport concessions to energy bill assistance, various initiatives are to relieve the burden of qualified residents.
What is the Cost of Living Concession Payment in South Australia?
The Cost of Living Concession (COLC) is an annual cash payment that is issued directly to the households of South Australians who are eligible to assist with the daily expenses, such as the council rates, energy bills, water bills and medical expenses. It is not a voucher or a rebate; it is actual money directly deposited in your bank account through electronic funds transfer (EFT) between August and December of every single year.
The amount of payment is $255.60 during the 2024-25 financial year. This is a huge rise among a number of beneficiaries since the government has permanently doubled the concession on tenants and holders of the Health Card, Commonwealth Seniors. All of whom previously received only $122.
Nearly 225,000 households are newly eligible to enjoy the concession in the 2025-26 financial year, which will be nearly 50,000 households more than in the past years. This increase is in line with eligibility reforms that have seen an increased portion of South Australians in shared living arrangements be able to receive support.
Who is Eligible for South Australia’s Cost of Living Relief?
The eligibility to receive the Cost of Living Concession depends on your condition on 1 July in the specific financial year. To qualify, you must:
- Reside at the property as your major residential.
- Hold an eligible concession card, an approved Centrelink payment or qualify as a low-income earner.
- In the case of tenants, a written rental agreement in the form of a residential tenancy agreement, rooming house agreement, or resident contract to a sponsored residential facility.
Eligible Concession Cards
You are eligible provided you have any of the following cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Veteran Gold Card (TPI, EDA, War Widow, or MRCA that has 80+ impairment points)
- Low-Income Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Eligible Centrelink Payments
Automatic eligibility recipients of such Centrelink payments include:
- JobSeeker Payment
- Youth Allowance
- Parenting Payment
- Special Benefit
- The Community Development Program (CDP)
- Eligibility may vary from ABSTUDY and Austudy recipients.
- The Farm Household Allowance (FHA) is an annual allowance given to farmers, including their dependents, as a benefit.
- Self-Employment Allowance
Low Income Provisions
In the 2025-26 financial year, in case you do not hold an eligible card or Centrelink payment, your total income must not exceed the following amounts:
| Status | Fortnightly Income (Before Tax) | Annual Income (Before Tax) |
| Single | $931.10 | $24,208.60 |
| Single with children | $986.50 | $25,649.00 |
| Partnered | $1,730.20 | $44,985.20 |
How Much Will You Receive in Cost-of-Living Support?
Cost of Living Concession Payment
All the qualified households get $255.60 every year. This is the same whether you are a homeowner, tenant or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder; that is a marked difference when compared to the previous years, where tenants and the seniors were given less than what the homeowners were given.
Additional Household Concessions (2024-25)
In addition to the COLC, South Australians have a number of other concessions available to them:
| Type of Concessions | Maximum annual amount |
| Energy Bill Concession | Up to $274.85 |
| Water Concession (Homeowner/Tenant paying supply) | Up to $398.40 |
| Water Concession (Tenant paying usage only) | Up to$310.60 |
| Sewerage Concession (Homeowners only) | $162.20 |
| Emergency Services Levy | $46.00 |
| Medical Heating & Cooling Concession | $274.85 |
These concessions get automatically debited on your bills in case you are qualified or directly to your bank account, depending on the service.
Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief: Extra Support for Your Electricity Bills
Besides concessions of the state, the Energy Bill Relief Fund by the Australian Government gives extra assistance in electricity charges.
In the 2025- 26 financial year, all South Australian households will receive energy bill relief in an amount of up to $150, and this will be given in quarterly instalments on any South Australian household bills between 1 July 2025 and 31 December 2025. This is an expansion of the 2024-25 program, in which households will get up to $300.
You do not have to make any application; your electricity company will credit the account automatically. Learn more at the Australian government energy bill relief page.
State Budget 2025-26: What New Relief is Coming?
The South Australian Government 2025 26 Budget contains new cost-of-living initiatives amounting to $118.3 million in five years:
Cheaper Public Transport for Students
From 2025-26, student MetroCards 28-day passes will only be $10 (as compared to $28.60), allowing families to save up to $242 annually per student. This is the equivalent of a quarter of a dollar per school day.
This measure is funded by the government to the tune of $20.7 million within four years.
School Materials and Services Charge Reduction
The materials and services charge has been cut by one-fifth, to $200 for the government school students, with a four-year aid of $96 million. This offers first-hand relief to more than 120,000 students and their relatives.
Example Family Savings
In 2025-26, a family of two school-going children would be able to save $1,084 by:
- 28-day pass fare discount ($242 per student): $484.
- Reduction in materials and services charge (per student): $200 x 2= $400.
- Increase in sports voucher program ($100/student): $200.
A family earning a total taxable income of $150,000 would save more than $4300 in 2025-26 when these cuts and energy bill relief are combined with the Commonwealth Government tax cuts.
Health Care Card Concession Travel from 2025
One of the changes that will happen since 1 January 2025 is that the holders of the Health Care Card will receive a concession fare (a 50-per-cent discount) on Adelaide Metro bus, train, and tram services, and also on regional public transport.
In the past, applicants for a Health Care Card had to apply to obtain a separate Transport Concession Card. Now, you simply:
- Buy a concession metroCARD or ticket.
- Travelling with your Health Care Card.
- Display both at the demand of transport officers.
The change is spreading concession travel to thousands of low-income South Australians.
Is There a Centrelink Bonus Payment in 2025?
No–there is no bonus payment of $750, $1500, or other bonus payment from Centrelink in 2025, as rumours spread widely on social media. Services Australia has clearly cautioned that these claims are fake and aim to gather personal data.
This bafflement can be attributed to the valid Economic Support Payments of $750 that had been distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. These were lump sums, and they have not been replicated.
What IS Real: Regular Centrelink Payment Indexation
Centrelink payments such as Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, JobSeeker payment and Parenting payment are increased twice a year (20 March and 20 September) by the rate of inflation.
Among the payments, on 20 September 2025, there was a slight increase:
- The increase for those on the Single Age Pension was about $29.70 per fortnight.
- The increase was about $44.80 per fortnight for couples.
This amounts to about $771 more for single pensioners and $1,164.80 for couples over a period of one year- these are the same figures that were rumoured to be paid once ($750).
How to Apply for Cost of Living Relief in South Australia
Cost of Living Concession Application
If you received the COLC previously, and your situation has not altered, you do not have to submit another application. The automatic payment will be made from August to December.
New applicants or those required to update the information should apply before 31 December to obtain the COLC in that financial year.
Apply online using the SA Government household concessions form on sa.gov.au/concessions. You’ll need:
- Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) or Department of Veterans Affairs file number.
- The most recent electricity and water bills.
- Most recent Notice of Emergency Services Levy Assessment (only for homeowners)
- Bank accounts (BSB and account number)
Phone Support: ConcessionsSA: Call 1800 307 758, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Energy Bill Relief
In the case of the energy bill relief by the Commonwealth Government, there is no need to apply. It is automatically charged on your electric bill.
Transport Concessions
In the case of the Health Care Card holders, all you have to do is buy concession tickets when travelling, and bring your card. No separate application will be required by 2025.
Key Reminders and Important Dates
- 31 December: Last day to receive an application for Cost of Living Concession in the current financial year.
- 1 July: This is the date of an evaluation of your eligibility to join COLC.
- August- December: COLC payments get deposited into bank accounts.
- 20 March and 20 September: Date of indexation of Centrelink payments.
Maximising Your Cost of Living Support
So that you can get every dollar of the support available:
- Check all eligibility options— You may qualify for various concessions at the same time.
- Maintain your information: You can maintain your address, bank details or energy accounts using the online form.
- Meet deadlines: Failure to meet the deadline of 31 December implies waiting until the following financial year.
- Check your bills: Energy bill relief and concessions should be in the form of credits.
- Be aware of fraud: Only the official government sites (they have the .gov.au at the end of their names) should be relied on to provide the information and the applications.
Conclusion: Real Help is Available
Although this $255.60 under the Cost of Living Concession is not the solution to all the financial problems, it is a part of a grand package of assistance that South Australians can get. With energy concessions (up to $274.85) and water concessions (up to $398.40) included, Commonwealth energy bill relief ($150) and transport and school fees, the eligible households would receive well over $1000 in savings each year.
The trick is in being aware of what you can get and doing something to claim it. Rumours of non-existent bonus payments shouldn’t get in the way of the actual, physical support that can be availed of now. Ready to claim your support? To check your eligibility, visit sa.gov.au/concessions or dial 1800 307 758 and apply today.
