Cost of Living Concession South Australia: Eligibility, Amount and How to Claim

What the Cost of Living Concession Is and Why It Replaced the Old Rates Rebate

South Australia abolished its direct council rates concession on 1 July 2015. Before that date, eligible pensioners saw a credit of up to $190 on their rate notice. That line item no longer exists.

In its place, the state government created the Cost of Living Concession (COLC) — a once-a-year cash payment deposited directly into your bank account by the Department of Human Services through ConcessionsSA. For the 2026–27 financial year the payment is $270.60.

The shift means renters now qualify too, and your council's billing system no longer has to process state welfare adjustments. But it also means the concession is invisible on your rate notice, which catches many new pensioners off guard.

Who Qualifies for the COLC in 2026–27

Eligibility is assessed based on your circumstances on 1 July 2026. You qualify if you hold one of the following on that date:

• Pensioner Concession Card (Centrelink or DVA)
• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
• DVA Gold Card (TPI, EDA or War Widow)
• Low Income Health Care Card
• JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance recipient

If you hold none of these cards, you can still qualify under the low-income provisions: a taxable income below $24,926.20 for singles or $46,295.60 for couples.

Both homeowners and tenants with a written lease are eligible. The payment amount is the same regardless of tenure.

How Much and When You Get Paid

The 2026–27 COLC is $270.60 per household, paid as a single annual lump sum via EFT between August and December 2026. On your bank statement, look for the descriptor SA GOV COLC or DHS Controlled.

The amount is indexed each financial year — it was $261.90 in 2025–26 and $255.60 the year before that.

If you are already registered and nothing has changed in your living arrangements, the payment rolls over automatically. You do not need to reapply each year.

The Hard Deadline You Cannot Miss

New applicants and anyone reporting a change in circumstances must lodge their application by 31 December 2026. Applications received from 1 January 2027 onward cannot be processed for the 2026–27 cycle — they roll into the next financial year.

The COLC cannot be backdated beyond the current financial year. If you missed previous years, those payments are gone permanently. This strict no-backdate rule is one of the biggest gaps in the official documentation.

How to Apply

ConcessionsSA runs a single application form that screens you for four household concessions at once — COLC, water, sewerage and the Emergency Services Levy remission. You only fill out one form.

Online: Apply at the SA.GOV.AU concessions portal. You do not need a mySAGOV account.

Paper: Download the standard form (PDF, 375.4 KB) or the Easy Read version (PDF, 300.4 KB) from the same page. You can also request a form by calling ConcessionsSA on 1800 307 758 or writing to GPO Box 292, Adelaide SA 5001.

You will need your Centrelink CRN or DVA file number, your most recent electricity and SA Water bills, your ESL assessment notice (homeowners), and valid bank account details for the EFT payment.

What to Do If Your Payment Is Missing

If December ends and there is nothing in your account, contact ConcessionsSA on 1800 307 758. Where an administrative error caused the delay, they can issue a manual back-pay EFT adjustment. COLC payments are processed independently of your council rate account — your local council cannot fix a missing COLC payment.

Putting It All Together

The COLC is just one piece of a larger concession system that also includes water and sewerage remissions, the ESL reduction, and council-level hardship options. Our SA Council Rates Help guide maps the full cross-agency picture — which agency handles what, what documents you need, and what deadlines apply — so nothing falls through the gaps.

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