Cost of Living and Concessions

Affordable SA

Affordable SA Website

Affordable SA is for South Australians struggling with affordability issues. It makes it easy to access information, resources, support, and services to best meet your needs. Services are free, confidential and provided with dignity.

The site is facilitated by The Salvation Army.

Phone 1800 025 539
Visit Affordable SA

Concessions

To apply for household concessions, you can use the online application form or scan and email your completed application to concessions@sa.gov.au.
Processing delays may apply to applications received by post.

Available concessions

The government provides a range of concessions and programs to eligible South Australians including:

• Companion Card
• Cost of Living Concession (opens new website)
• Energy bill concession
• Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme
• Emergency Services Levy (fixed property) Remission (opens new website)
• Funeral AssistanceSA
• GlassesSA
• Medical Heating and Cooling Concession
• Personal AlertSA (opens new website)
• Retirement village and residential park resident concessions (opens new website)
• Transport Concession Card (opens new website)
• Water and sewage rate concessions.

Concession finder

Use this tool to see if you are eligible for a concession.

Contact us

Concessions and Support Services

ConcessionsSA Hotline: 1800 307 758
Mail: GPO Box 292, Adelaide SA 5001
Email: ConcessionsSA

Resources

Are you eligible for a concession? Brochure (PDF 327.1 KB)

South Australian Government Residential Parks Concession Scheme (PDF 236.3 KB)

Residential Parks Concession Fact Sheet (PDF 156.7 KB)

Financial support

Emergency assistance

There are services to help you in an emergency. They may give you some personal and household essentials (such as toiletries or clothes) after a brief assessment process.

Affordable SA - emergency relief

Free financial counselling

A Financial Counsellor is someone you can trust. They can help you plan your way out of debt.

You can speak with someone over the phone or be referred to someone closer to where you live.

Phone the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007
Phone the Affordable SA Helpline on 1800 025 539\

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can call the free Mob Strong Debt Helpline on 1800 808 488.

No Interest Loans (NILs)

No Interest Loans are available up to $2000 for essential goods and services including:

• Household essentials
• Car repair and registration
• Medical and dental
• Housing
• Education.

There are rules about who can apply for these loans.

No Interest Loans (NILs) website

Covid-19 Financial Support

Some government payments have ended, but you can still get help during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Food help, emergency housing and other supports

Adults Supporting Kids (ASK) is a DHS website.

ASK can help if you’re struggling with:

• finding a safe place to live for your children, family and pets
• putting food on the table
• your family’s mental health and wellbeing
• having enough money to pay the bills
• finding someone to talk to.

Get practical support for you and your family

Flood, fire and disaster recovery

Referring a client for food or financial support

This page is for professionals making referrals for food or financial relief.

Download this information

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - English (PDF 566.4 KB)

Food Insecurity

If food insecurity is identified for isolating community members, they should be referred to the relevant Emergency Financial Assistance Program Provider, who will arrange the delivery of food and essentials.

Program providers

Adelaide Hills

The Hut Community Centre
Phone 8339 4400

Barossa, Light and Lower North

Lutheran Care
Phone 8562 2688

Eastern Adelaide

Baptist Care (SA) Inc
Phone 8118 5200

Eyre and Western

Centacare Catholic Country SA
Phone 1800 759 865

Far North

Centacare Catholic Country SA
Phone 1800 759 865

Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island

Lutheran Care
Phone 7070 6717

Limestone Coast

ac. care
Phone 1300 222 273

Murray Mallee

ac. care
Phone 1300 222 273

Northern Adelaide

Anglicare SA Ltd
Phone 0481 151 569

Southern Adelaide

Anglicare SA Ltd
Phone 0481 151 569

Western Adelaide

Uniting Care Wesley Bowden Incorporated
Phone 8245 7139

Yorke and Mid-North

Uniting Country SA Inc
Phone 1300 067 777

Financial Insecurity

If financial insecurity is identified (housing, utilities, telecommunications or other living essentials at risk) for isolating community members, they should be referred to Affordable SA, who will provide centralised telephone based financial counselling services and also act as a referral point to the broader services system.

Affordable SA

Phone 1800 025 539

Download this information

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - English (PDF 566.4 KB)