New concessions scheme kicks in from today
It’s a sad reality but counting coins to make ends meet is a weekly occurrence for some 140,000 South Australian households.
From today, the pressure of living on that financial edge is about to be temporarily relieved through to a round of financial benefits of up to $200 being issued by the State Government.
The Cost of Living Concession was brought in by the state after funding for the council rate concession was cut by the Federal Government.
Under the concession, pensioners and low-income earners who used to receive the council rate concession of $190 a year will now receive up to $200.
“This new concession provides the flexibility for people to use it where they need to in order to support themselves and their families,” SA Communities and Social Inclusion Minister Zoe Bettison said.
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“The State Government has intervened to ensure struggling South Australian families are not impacted by the Federal Government’s $30 million cut to the council rate concession.
Bettison said the scheme was expanded to include 45,000 SA pensioners who rent a home and were now eligible for a $100 payment.
“This brings utilities and living cost concessions for pensioners and other eligible low-income earners to a maximum of $866 each year.”
Recent figures from the South Australia Council of Social Service noted a slight increase in the cost of living for the state’s most vulnerable.
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SACOSS stated in its June quarter report that costs for age pensioners rose by 0.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent for other social security recipients.
The increasing cost of fuel and health were identified as the biggest financial pressure for low-income households.
The cost of food in Adelaide fell 0.5 per cent during the quarter but rents rose by 0.3 per cent.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, utilities (electricity, gas and water) for Adelaide had an overall change of -4.6 per cent for the quarter compared with -0.2 for the nation.
Since the concession was announced only about 40,000 households have applied. Eligible households have until 31 October 2015 to submit an application.
Applications submitted after that date will be considered for the following financial year’s concession from 1 July 2016.
“There is still time to submit your application and I encourage people to do it as soon as possible,” Bettison said.
“If you previously received a council rate concession as a home owner, and receive a pension, Centrelink payment or are a low income earner, you will automatically receive the new COLC payment.”
Up to $100 a year is available for pensioners and low-income earners who are tenants.
Self-funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are eligible to receive up to $100 per year, whether they are tenants or homeowners
For Housing SA tenants, the concession will not have any effect on rent calculations.
