All cost-of-living concessions paid in August, including for renters, after plea from Adelaide pensioner Lyndall Johnson

A pensioner’s simple letter to the Premier has forced a sudden change in when renters will receive a government payout.

All cost-of-living concession payments, which have this year been doubled to up to $449, will be paid in August after the government moved to correct an injustice in the scheme.

While previously payments to homeowners were made in August, renters had been forced to wait until the following March for their payments.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the change was made after pensioner Lyndall Johnson, 71, of Findon, wrote to the government arguing the system was unfair and renters also needed faster access to the money.

Mr Malinauskas said the government agreed it was wrong to force renters to wait months for their payment.

“We’ve addressed that injustice,” he said on Thursday.

Pensioner Lyndall Johnson with Human Services minister Nat Cook and Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Kathryn Bermingham

With the concession this year doubled, following a Labor election commitment, homeowner-occupiers will receive $449, while tenants will receive $224.60.

Ms Johnson, who appeared alongside Mr Malinauskas at a press conference, welcomed the announcement, and said her increased payment could go towards electricity bills.

“If you really want to know the fun of living on the aged pension, I get my pension paid tomorrow and I’ve got one dollar and one cent left in my bank account,” she said.

“So it’s literally a fortnight-to-fortnight way of living for many pensioners, so of course it will make a huge difference.”

The payment will be made to about 200,000 eligible households, who must hold specific concession cards or meet income limits. The first payments will be made to those who had applied by July 1, but applications are still open.

Greens MLC Robert Simms called on the government to increase the concession for renters to the same rate as homeowners.

“At a time when we are facing a full-blown rental affordability crisis, it’s absurd that the government is paying a different rate to renters and homeowners,” he said.

“We know that renters are facing record rent prices and are desperately in need of relief.”

Mr Malinauskas said the reason for the higher payment was, historically, the cost-of-living payment included a council rates rebate, which was applicable only to homeowners.

However, he said the issue would be looked at in a full review of the concessions system.