SA State Budget cost-of-living payment due to put $250 in 210,000 bank accounts before end of August

The money Labor promised to relieve cost-of-living stress will be hitting accounts in 210,000 households within days, the government says.

Cost of living relief is on its way with about 210,000 South Australian households set to receive a direct payment of more than $250 this week.

The state government’s 2024-25 cost of living concession payment of $255.60 will be paid direct into the bank accounts of households on low or fixed incomes.

The state budget handed down in June allocated more than $266m in cost of living relief, which included a once-off additional payment of $243.90 to households which received last year’s payment.

The payments total more than $53m and should be cleared in bank accounts by the end of August.

Payments made to tenants and self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth seniors health card have been doubled from $122 to match the amount paid to homeowner occupier households.

Alison Johnson said the payment is 'a big deal' as she said she now shops with a calculator. Picture: Supplied.

Alison Johnson, whose partner died 18 years ago, detailed her struggles with the rising cost of living and said the payment is “a real big deal”.

“I’m shopping now with a calculator,” Ms Johnson, from Greenwith, said.

“Six to 12 months ago I could get groceries for about $75 a week and now the same things are nearly $200 a week,” she said.

“Last week I was down to my last $10 and I didn’t know where I was going to get food from.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the payments are an effort to provide support with cost of living. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the payments come as cost of living is “probably the most substantial challenge facing a number of households around the state”.

“This is a genuine effort to provide support to those who need it most,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Does that fix every problem? Of course it doesn’t but it is a meaningful difference to those people who are on particularly low incomes.

“People who are on low and fixed incomes, pensioners, people on the rental market, who have seen their rents skyrocket, they’re the people who I worry about the most.”

The budget package also included $36.6m over four years to align the cost of living concession payment for tenants and seniors health card holders so all those eligible will receive the new standard amount of $255.60.

About 56,000 tenant households and 14,000 households with a Commonwealth seniors health card holder will benefit from the increased support.

Human Services Minister Nat Cook encouraged South Australians to check their eligibility for the payment. Picture: Matt Loxton

Human Services Minister Nat Cook encouraged South Australians to check their eligibility for the payment.

“It’s bad news for the Treasurer because we’d like to pay as much money out as we can,” Ms Cook said.

One person per household will receive the payment and assessment is based on an individual’s circumstances on July 1 each financial year.

Households do not need to reapply if they received the support previously.

Applications are still open for the financial year until December 31 and recipients must live at the property, hold an eligible concession card, receive an eligible Centrelink payment or meet low-income provisions.