Over 215,000 households eligible for financial support as minister urges everyone to apply

In the Land Down Under, where the sun scorches the earth, and the cost of living seems to rise like the mercury on a hot summer's day, there's a glimmer of hope for Australians grappling with their bills.

The state government supports eligible households with low or fixed incomes.

But time is ticking, and the end of the year is fast approaching, so it's crucial to act swiftly to claim this treasure chest of relief.


This advantage of the support available before the 31st of December 2024 deadline.

Over 215,000 households will be able to access these household concessions.


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Up to $1,100 in cost-of-living relief can be applied for by South Australian households on low or fixed incomes before the end of the year. Credit: Unsplash


The concessions range from payments for cost-of-living relief to energy, water, sewerage, medical heating and cooling, and the emergency services levy.

However, it's been reported that thousands of eligible households, potentially including older South Australians, families, single parents, or people with disabilities, have not yet applied for these concessions.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook has highlighted the struggle many low or fixed-income households face with the rising cost of living.


'We know about a quarter of households in South Australia already access the range of concessions including cost-of-living, water, energy and sewerage, but many more households would be eligible,' Cook said.

The government is offering these concessions and extending free public transport to all people with Centrelink Health Care Cards from 1 January 2025.

For families, the Sports Voucher program will provide two $100 grants in 2025 to help cover the cost of kids' extracurricular activities. Additionally, the materials and services charge subsidy will be doubled to $200 per child for government schools from 2025.

Eligibility for these concessions generally requires holding an eligible concession card, receiving an eligible Centrelink payment, or being low-income.

This can include the pensioner concession card, veteran gold card, low-income health care card, and commonwealth seniors health card.


Centrelink payments that may qualify include JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Special Benefit, and ABSTUDY.

Applying is straightforward–you can do it online or phone the Concessions SA hotline on 1800 307 758 to have an application posted.

Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers; it's time to unlock the treasure chest of relief and ease the burden of those bills.

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Key Takeaways

  • South Australian households on low or fixed incomes can apply for up to $1,100 in cost-of-living relief before the end of the year.
  • Over 215,000 households are eligible for various concessions, including energy, water, and medical heating and cooling payments.
  • Human Services Minister Nat Cook emphasises that many more households might be eligible for these aids amidst rising living costs.
  • Eligibility for the concessions depends on holding an eligible concession card, receiving a Centrelink payment, or being on low income.
Have you or someone you know benefited from these concessions? What was the process like? Please share your stories in the comments below.
 
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Why do people in assisted living not get the C.O.L payment? We pay for water etc in our rent each fortnight to the owners who pay the bills, we struggle too, as our rent is 75% of our benefits including water and other utilities. We are all on some type of benefit and are in assisted living due to disability, age or extremely high cost of rent or have no family. The C.O.L payment should go to all those who pay rent regardless of where they live if they are low income/ on benefits of some kind
 
My partner and I are both on disibility pensions and we both use a Cpap machine, there is a payment from Centrelink you can get for this as well.
It's not a lot but it's something to help.
 
Does this cost-of-living benefit apply only to South Australians?

What is the definition of low-income?
 
Does this cost-of-living benefit apply only to South Australians?

What is the definition of low-income?
It's written in the story.

Eligibility for these concessions generally requires holding an eligible concession card, receiving an eligible Centrelink payment, or being low-income.
This can include the pensioner concession card, veteran gold card, low-income health care card, and commonwealth seniors health card.
Centrelink payments that may qualify include JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Special Benefit, and ABSTUDY.

So Centrelink payments and low income health care holders.
 

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