The South Australian government offers the Cost of Living Concession (COLC) to support homeowners and tenants with low or fixed incomes in their living expenses, like energy, water, and medical bills. This is a one-time payment in a year to financially relieve the citizens from rising inflation and the cost of living.
In the last financial year, 2024-25, the government offered a $255.60 concession amount for each eligible household. For the 2025-26 financial year, the government will begin the assessment for the COLC on 01 July 2025.
The government is yet to update the details regarding the 2025-26 financial year COLC benefit. The COLC is a tax-free payment offering immediate support to eligible South Australians. South Australians who have never received this support must apply by 31 December in the financial year
| Who Qualifies? | Homeowners or tenants with an eligible card, an eligible Centerlink payment, and who meet the low-income provisions. |
| Financial Year | 2025-26 |
| Max. Payment | To be released |
| Purpose | To support the house owners and tenants with their living expenses |
| Assessment Starts | 01 July 2025 |
| Payment Distribution | Between August and December |
| Apply by | By 31 December |
| Official Website | https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/concessions/household-concessions/cost-of-living-concessions |
Who can receive it?
According to the government, people who meet the following eligibility criteria can receive the Centrelink COLC payments:
- You live at the property in the financial year;
- You hold any eligible card, or comply with low-income provisions, and receive any eligible Centrelink payment.
- If you live as a tenant, you must possess a written rental agreement, such as a rooming house agreement, a residential tenancy agreement, or a resident contract for a supported residential facility.
- The Asylum seekers living in South Australia can also apply for transport, household, and health costs. They must have a Bridging Visa E/ receive support from the Australian Government’s status Resolution Support Services.
Eligible Cards and Centrelink Payments
As mentioned earlier, the South Australians need to have the eligible cards or receive any eligible Centrelink payments; here you can check the eligible cards and Centrelink payments below:
- Eligible Cards
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Low-Income Health Care Card
- Veteran Gold Card:
- Extreme Disablement Adjustment
- War Widow
- Totally and Permanently Incapacitated
- Person with 80 or overall impairment points (Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act)
- Eligible Centrelink Payments:
- ABSTUDY
- JobSeeker Payment
- Parenting Payment
- Austudy
- Youth Allowance
- Special Benefit
- Self-Employment Allowance
- Community Development Program (CDP)
- War Widow pension (under New Zealand or UK legislation)
- Farm Household Allowance
Concession Amount
The government indexed the concession amount each year to ensure the amount is enough for the recipients to cover their living expenses and offer them some financial relief. The government will assess the amount for the 2025-26 financial year and publish the amount before July this year.
Last year, the concession amount for the eligible household was $255.60, and since the cost of living in South Australia has increased, the recipients may expect a boost in the 2025-26 payment. The authority transfers the concession amount to the eligible recipient’s account through the electronic fund transfer to ensure the needy receive the payout without any hurdles.
The authority will process the concession amount to the account of beneficiaries between August and December every year.
How to claim?
According to the official guidelines related to the COLC, the recipients who have been receiving this payment and their circumstances are the same as the previous year, do not have to apply for the concession as it will be automatically processed to their account. However, if you never received this concession amount or there is a change in circumstances, you must apply or update the changes to the authorities.
The eligible residents can apply or update their details with ConcessionsSA, like their bank account, energy account, and address etc. To apply for the Centrelink COLC payment, you must prepare the following documents:
- Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) or Veterans Affairs file number, and if you don’t have any of the above, you can use your tax assessment copy;
- Recent Notice of Emergency Services Levy Assessment (for homeowners only)
- Recent Water and Electricity bills
- Bank account details.
The eligible South Australians can apply for the Centrelink COLC payment in the following ways:
- Online: You can visit the official website mentioned above and start the application process. You must complete the application within 28 days if you have saved the application.
- Offline: You can download the Household concessions form and contact ConcessionsSA to complete the application.
The eligible households who have previously received the concession in their name can call 1800 307 758 to re-establish their concessions. The applicants applying for the first time should complete the application by 31 December 2025.
The application for the SA Centrelink COLC is open, the residents can easily apply. People who received the COLC previously will be assessed for the 2025-26 concession as at 01 July 2025.