Concessions for Pensioners: South Australia (SA)
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Are you unsure of what you’re eligible for as an Australian senior? We’re here to help!
This guide details the benefits of Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders in South Australia (SA). With the card, you can get cheaper medicine, bulk-billed doctor visits, and help with hearing services.
If you want to know more about what a PCC is and how to avail it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Utilities
Energy Bill Concession
The energy bill concession is available to people who hold a:
You can apply through the Concessions SA website.
If you receive the energy concession, you could also be eligible for the SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer.
If you live in a residential park, you could be eligible for a combined concession for your energy, water and sewerage - Residential Park Concessions.
SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer
The SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SACEDO) gives you extra discounts if your retailer is Origin Energy and you already receive the standard energy concession.
You can find details on how to apply here.
Residential Park Concessions.
People who live in a residential or caravan park may be eligible to receive a single combined concession to help with their energy, water and sewerage bills.
Eligible cards:
For example, from 1 July 2022:
Cost of Living Concession
The Cost of Living Concession provides eligible card holders with a maximum annual payment per household to put towards their greatest needs, whether that is electricity, gas and water bills or council rates.
The following DVA clients are eligible for the concession payment:
For the 2022–23 financial year, all eligible applicants received a once-off doubling of the Cost of Living Concession.
The amount per eligible household was:
Rates
Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can receive help with water and sewerage rates.
To apply, you'll need:
Concession amounts are indexed each financial year.
Water
The water concession is calculated as up to 30% of your total water bill for a financial year, subject to the minimum and maximum amounts available on their website.
Sewerage
The maximum sewerage rate remission is $123.50 per annum.
Note: tenants are not eligible for a concession on sewerage rates.
You can find more information here.
Motor vehicle registration
You may be entitled to the Pensioner Concession if you hold a pension card issued by the Australian Government.
Benefits include:
Concession applications will be verified electronically with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Public transport
Your Pensioner Concession Card automatically entitles you to concession fares on Adelaide Metro.
Simply present the card when buying a ticket and always carry it when travelling.
For more information about concession fares check out the Adelaide Metro website.
South Australian Seniors Card members can also travel for free on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams – all day, every day.
Your Seniors Card is part of Adelaide's metroCARD public transport electronic ticketing system, which is operational on all buses, trains and trams. The Seniors Card has the metroCARD technology built in, which means you only have to carry one card to access discounts on goods and services and public transport.
Your Seniors Card is ready to use on public transport as soon as you receive it.
You'll need to validate your Seniors Card every time you board an Adelaide Metro bus, train or tram, even though your travel is free. To validate, hold the card against the validation machine. A beep and green light means that it has been validated properly.
New and replacement Seniors Cards are issued through the Seniors Card Unit. If you lose your Seniors Card or it gets stolen or stops working, use the Seniors Card member online services or contact the Seniors Card Unit at 1800 819 961 or email [email protected] and a replacement card will be provided to you at no cost.
Don't bend or puncture your Seniors Card, as it may damage the internal antenna or microchip. Don't expose your Seniors Card to static electricity, water or temperature extremes (such as a clothes dryer or car dashboard).
South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS)
The SATSS provides subsidised taxi fares for people with permanent and severe disabilities. For more information, call 1300 360 840 or visit their website.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus to collect you from home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on redirecting mail and free document certification for eligible concession card holders..
You can apply if you hold any of the following Australian Federal Government concession cards:
Telstra
Telstra offers a number of concessions to Pensioner Concession Card holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information contact Telstra on 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
GlassesSA
GlassesSA helps South Australians obtain low-cost glasses or, for those with serious eye conditions, no-cost contact lenses.
Show your eligible Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card to a participating optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
The maximum you will pay for a complete pair of standard glasses (basic frames and standard lenses) is:
glasses with single-vision lenses - $25
glasses with single-vision grind lenses - $30
glasses with bi-focal lenses - $50
glasses with multifocal lenses - $100.
To be eligible for the GlassesSA scheme, you must:
SA Dental Services Clinic
Pensioner Concession Card holders can access dental care at SA Dental Service clinics. For more information, visit their website.
Medical Heating and Cooling Concession
The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a clinically verified medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe worsening of their condition.
The concession amount is indexed each financial year and is currently $241.63 annually. The concession is available to eligible applicants in addition to the current energy concession.
You can check your eligibility here.
This guide details the benefits of Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders in South Australia (SA). With the card, you can get cheaper medicine, bulk-billed doctor visits, and help with hearing services.
If you want to know more about what a PCC is and how to avail it, click here!
Read on to determine what concessions you're entitled to with your PCC!
Image Credit: Unsplash
Utilities
Energy Bill Concession
The energy bill concession is available to people who hold a:
- Pensioner Concession Card,
- DVA Veterans’ Gold Card,
- Low-Income Health Care Card,
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
You can apply through the Concessions SA website.
If you receive the energy concession, you could also be eligible for the SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer.
If you live in a residential park, you could be eligible for a combined concession for your energy, water and sewerage - Residential Park Concessions.
SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer
The SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SACEDO) gives you extra discounts if your retailer is Origin Energy and you already receive the standard energy concession.
You can find details on how to apply here.
Residential Park Concessions.
People who live in a residential or caravan park may be eligible to receive a single combined concession to help with their energy, water and sewerage bills.
Eligible cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Gold Card from the Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI)
- Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA)
- War Widow
- issued to a person with 80 or more overall impairment points under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
For example, from 1 July 2022:
- residents who own their own dwelling and pay for water, sewerage and energy - up to $572.73 per annum (paid quarterly)
- tenants who pay for water and energy - up to $376.33 per annum (paid quarterly).
Cost of Living Concession
The Cost of Living Concession provides eligible card holders with a maximum annual payment per household to put towards their greatest needs, whether that is electricity, gas and water bills or council rates.
The following DVA clients are eligible for the concession payment:
- Pensioner Concession Card holders
- holders of a Veteran Gold Card embossed with ‘TPI’, ‘EDA’ or ‘War Widow’;
- Veteran Gold Card holders who have been assessed under the MRCA at 80 or more impairment points; and
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
For the 2022–23 financial year, all eligible applicants received a once-off doubling of the Cost of Living Concession.
The amount per eligible household was:
- homeowner-occupiers: $449 (standard rate $224.50)
- homeowner-occupiers who are self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card: $224.60 (standard rate $112.30)
- tenants: $224.60 (standard rate $112.30).
Rates
Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can receive help with water and sewerage rates.
To apply, you'll need:
- your Centrelink customer reference number (CRN), DVA file number or a copy of your most recent tax assessment
- your SA Water account number (SA Water customers only).
- You can also use the form to update your details - eg address or bank details.
Concession amounts are indexed each financial year.
Water
The water concession is calculated as up to 30% of your total water bill for a financial year, subject to the minimum and maximum amounts available on their website.
Sewerage
The maximum sewerage rate remission is $123.50 per annum.
Note: tenants are not eligible for a concession on sewerage rates.
You can find more information here.
Motor vehicle registration
You may be entitled to the Pensioner Concession if you hold a pension card issued by the Australian Government.
Benefits include:
- 50% reduction in the registration fee - you may only receive concession on the registration of one motor vehicle (or motorcycle) and one trailer (or caravan) that you own and use
- exemption from the payment of stamp duty on compulsory third party insurance
- 50% reduction in the driver's licence fee.
How to apply for the concession
Email
Complete an MR22 application form and scan and email to [email protected].Phone
Call Service SA on 13 10 84. Consent to a Centrelink confirmation check will be required.In person
Complete an MR22 application form and attend a Service SA customer service centre.Concession applications will be verified electronically with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Public transport
Your Pensioner Concession Card automatically entitles you to concession fares on Adelaide Metro.
Simply present the card when buying a ticket and always carry it when travelling.
For more information about concession fares check out the Adelaide Metro website.
South Australian Seniors Card members can also travel for free on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams – all day, every day.
Your Seniors Card is part of Adelaide's metroCARD public transport electronic ticketing system, which is operational on all buses, trains and trams. The Seniors Card has the metroCARD technology built in, which means you only have to carry one card to access discounts on goods and services and public transport.
Your Seniors Card is ready to use on public transport as soon as you receive it.
You'll need to validate your Seniors Card every time you board an Adelaide Metro bus, train or tram, even though your travel is free. To validate, hold the card against the validation machine. A beep and green light means that it has been validated properly.
New and replacement Seniors Cards are issued through the Seniors Card Unit. If you lose your Seniors Card or it gets stolen or stops working, use the Seniors Card member online services or contact the Seniors Card Unit at 1800 819 961 or email [email protected] and a replacement card will be provided to you at no cost.
Don't bend or puncture your Seniors Card, as it may damage the internal antenna or microchip. Don't expose your Seniors Card to static electricity, water or temperature extremes (such as a clothes dryer or car dashboard).
South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme (SATSS)
The SATSS provides subsidised taxi fares for people with permanent and severe disabilities. For more information, call 1300 360 840 or visit their website.
Courtesy Bus
Many RSLs offer a free courtesy bus to collect you from home. Speak to your local RSL for more information.
Other
Australia Post
Australia Post offers a 40% discount on postage stamps, discounts on redirecting mail and free document certification for eligible concession card holders..
You can apply if you hold any of the following Australian Federal Government concession cards:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Card
- Veterans' Repatriation Health Card
Telstra
Telstra offers a number of concessions to Pensioner Concession Card holders, including a discount on new telephone service connection fee and a reduction in your home line plan costs. For more information contact Telstra on 1800 676 442 or visit their website.
GlassesSA
GlassesSA helps South Australians obtain low-cost glasses or, for those with serious eye conditions, no-cost contact lenses.
Show your eligible Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card to a participating optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye specialist).
The maximum you will pay for a complete pair of standard glasses (basic frames and standard lenses) is:
glasses with single-vision lenses - $25
glasses with single-vision grind lenses - $30
glasses with bi-focal lenses - $50
glasses with multifocal lenses - $100.
To be eligible for the GlassesSA scheme, you must:
- live permanently in South Australia
- receive one of the following maximum rate Centrelink payments:
- Aged Pension
- Disability Support Pension
- JobSeeker Payment
- Parenting Payment (single or partnered)
- Carer Payment
- receive a maximum rate DVA pension
SA Dental Services Clinic
Pensioner Concession Card holders can access dental care at SA Dental Service clinics. For more information, visit their website.
Medical Heating and Cooling Concession
The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession assists South Australians on a fixed or low income who have a clinically verified medical condition which requires the frequent use of heating or cooling in the home to prevent the severe worsening of their condition.
The concession amount is indexed each financial year and is currently $241.63 annually. The concession is available to eligible applicants in addition to the current energy concession.
You can check your eligibility here.
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