The Malinauskas Labor Government’s first budget will deliver hundreds of dollars of relief for battling South Australians with the doubling of the State Government Cost of Living Concession.

Amid surging petrol prices and other everyday costs, South Australians eligible for the concession will receive up to $449 in the next financial year – an increase of up to $231.80 on the current payment.

The boost will be for the 2022-23 financial year and will cost $39.3 million.

The increase is more than 100 per cent because the government is doubling the amount after indexation.

The Cost of Living Concession can only be paid to one person per household. There are currently approximately 185,000 recipients. Assessment is based on an individual’s circumstances on 1 July of the relevant financial year.

Recipients must:

• Live at the property
• Hold an eligible card, receive an eligible Centrelink payment, or meet low income provisions
• Eligible cards include: Pensioner Concession Card, DVA Gold Card, 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 (Cth), Low Income Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
• Tenants must not be living with anyone who earns more than the low income provisions, unless they either: get an allowance from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) or are your spouse, domestic partner or dependent.
  South Australians who have yet to register for the concession payment can apply online through the South Australian Government website sa.gov.au.

The money should start hitting recipients bank accounts from August.

Today’s announcement is in addition to the government’s commitment to deliver free public transport for all Seniors Card holders at all times.

Currently, Seniors Card holders can travel free during interpeak periods on weekdays but must pay from 7am-9am and 3pm-7pm.

Quotes

Attributable to Peter Malinauskas

The rising cost of living is hitting everybody’s budgets, but it is disproportionately hurting those on low and fixed incomes.

While the government can’t click its fingers and make the cost of everyday items cheaper, what we can do is provide targeted relief to those who need it most.

I know many South Australians are having to cut back their household budget to meet rising costs.

Doubling the Cost of Living Concession will provide additional relief to people on low and fixed incomes to give them that little bit of extra breathing space.

Attributable to Stephen Mullighan

Of course, we would love to provide greater cost of living relief to everybody, but we are taking a prudent approach and targeting this modest cost of living relief to South Australians in dire need of support.

South Australians should check whether they are eligible for this payment and register online if necessary.