A Companion Card is for people with significant and permanent disability. When a cardholder buys a ticket at participating venues and activities in South Australia, their companion or carer will be given free entry. The Companion Card is not issued to every person who has a disability. The SA Government website provides guidance about the eligibility of different disabilities.
Companion Card holders can also get a free Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK), which gives 24-hour access to dedicated, accessible public facilities.
For more information about the Companion Card and the MLAK offer, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the sa.gov Companion Card webpage.
For more information about the Companion Card, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the sa.gov Companion Card webpage.
With a free Australia Post Concession account, you'll pay just 60c per stamp, instead of $1.50. You can buy up to 50 stamps per year, in booklets of 5 for $3.
You'll even get a free booklet of 5 concession stamps to get you started.
Are you eligible?
The following Australian Federal Government concession cards are accepted as proof of eligibility for an Australia Post Concession account.
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card (all types)
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Card
- Veterans' Repatriation Health Card
How to apply
Take your completed application form (also available in-store) to a Post Office, along with your valid Federal Government concession card.
Once approved, you'll receive your Australia Post Concession Account card in the mail within 14 days, along with your free booklet of 5 stamps.
Show your card at any Post Office to buy more concession stamps. You can buy up to 50 stamps per year, in booklets of 5.
The Cost of Living Concession (COLC) helps people on low or fixed incomes with their general living expenses - e.g. council rates, energy and medical bills.
You don't need to reapply if you received a COLC payment before and your living and income circumstances haven't changed.
This concession is paid between August and December each year by electronic funds transfer (EFT).
You must apply by 31 December to receive the COLC for that financial year.
Assessment is based on your circumstances on 1st July of the relevant financial year.
You can find further information about the Cost of Living Concession including eligibility criteria, rates, and how to apply on the SA Government website.
The Emergency Electricity Payment Scheme (EEPS) provides an emergency payment to help electricity customers in financial hardship.
This is available once every 2 years, paid as a credit directly onto the electricity account.
You can get this if:
- you have an electricity debt
- you're at risk of your electricity being disconnected, or it has already been disconnected.
Contact a financial counsellor to apply for EEPS. They will assess your financial situation before lodging an application on your behalf.
To contact a financial counsellor, please contact the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 (Mon to Thurs: 9.30am–8pm and Friday: 9.30am-4.30pm) to book an appointment with a financial counsellor. Financial counselling is a free, confidential and independent service. You can also chat with a financial counsellor for free via the live chat feature on the National Debt Helpline website.
South Australian residents may be eligible to receive a remission on the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) (fixed property) for their principal place of residence.
You might already be receiving the ESL (fixed property) remission if you are a pensioner and receive a concession on your water rates.
Residential park residents are not eligible for an ESL (fixed property) remission, as this charge is not normally passed on by residential park operators.
You can find further information about the Emergency Services Levy Remission including eligibility criteria, rates, and how to apply on the SA Government website.
Help to pay your electricity bill at your principal place of residence is available to eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes.
The concession is calculated as a flat rate per day and is indexed each financial year. It covers energy payments, including fuels used to generate energy (eg. LPG bottled gas and petrol).
People living in a residential park can apply for a combined concession for energy, water and sewerage - Residential Park Concessions
You can find further information about Energy Bill Concessions including eligibility criteria, rates, and how to apply on the SA Government website.
Funeral AssistanceSA helps people who have experienced the death of a South Australian family member or friend to cover the costs of a funeral.
The funeral provided is normally a cremation service, except in certain cultural and religious circumstances.
What to consider before applying for Funeral AssistanceSA.
The funeral costs might already be covered by:
- Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance if the deceased died in a motor vehicle accident – phone 1300 303 558.
- Commissioner for Victims' Rights if the deceased was a victim of crime – phone 7322 7007.
- Superannuation or a life insurance policy, if the deceased had this.
- Notify Centrelink about the death. You might need to provide proof to do this.
- You must exhaust all other options to raise funds or obtain credit.
- If the funeral was already arranged, you might be able to get after-the-event assistance if the account is modest and not yet fully paid.
- To apply, you will need to provide information about the income, assets and liabilities of the deceased and their immediate relatives (spouse, parents, and adult children), including copies of bank statements.
You can find further information about Funeral AssistanceSA including eligibility criteria, rates, and how to apply on the SA Government website.
GlassesSA helps South Australians obtain low-cost glasses or, for those with serious eye conditions, no-cost contact lenses.
Show your eligible card to a participating optometrist. Eligible cards are:
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Health Care Card
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Transport Concession Card (asylum seekers only)
Dependents of an eligible person, and children and young people in state care, can also access GlassesSA.
Find a participating optometrist near you.
You can find further information about GlassesSA including eligibility criteria, rates, and how to apply on the SA Government website.
An electricity concession is available for eligible people with kidney disease who receive dialysis treatment at home.
People receiving at home dialysis treatment can receive $274.85 annually to contribute to the running cost of their equipment at home.
Any person undergoing dialysis treatment at home is eligible provided that the concession has been approved by a SA Health Practitioner.
The electricity concession complements existing concessions administered by the Government of South Australia and the Australian Government for the use of medical equipment at home.
How to apply
Applications for the electricity concession can be made through the renal unit where you receive treatment.
To apply for the concession you will need to fill out a Home Dialysis Concession Claim Form available from your renal unit.
The claim form will need to be completed by you and your SA Health Practitioner and returned to your renal unit for processing.
For further information, please speak to your SA Health Practitioner or refer to theHome Dialysis Electricity Concession brochure.
Benefits of home dialysis
If you currently have dialysis treatment in public hospital or dialysis centre, home dialysis is an alternative treatment option that can provide you with more independence and flexibility.
You will no longer have to plan activities around pre-determined appointments and can receive treatment in the comfort of your own home.