Australia $255 Cost of Living Relief January 2025, Check Eligibility and How it works

The South Australian Government has announced major changes to its cost of living relief schemes, which will come into effect from January 1, 2025. Under these changes, thousands of low-income residents, particularly tenants living in shared houses, will now receive $255.60 in cost of living relief and energy support. The change was made following a government review that found that the old eligibility rules were causing many people to miss out on relief, particularly due to the income of a household partner.

Changes to old rules

Under the old rules, if a tenant lived in a shared house and their household partner’s income was less than $3,000 a year, they could be excluded from energy relief. Similarly, if the household partner was earning more than $24,000, they could be excluded from cost of living relief. Under the new rules, this restriction has now been removed, allowing more South Australians to benefit from financial relief.

Additional investment from the government

The South Australian government has made an additional investment of more than a quarter of a billion dollars in relief programs following the 2022 election. This includes doubling the cost of living relief and additional support for energy bills to help vulnerable groups in the state ease financial pressure.

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Important change for those living in shared housing

The government has made an important change for low-income tenants living in shared houses. Previously, if a tenant’s housemate was earning $3,000, he or she could be denied energy relief. This restriction has been removed under the new rules. In addition, previously the tenant was excluded from cost of living relief if the housemate earned more than $24,000, but now this rule has been changed.

Relief for other vulnerable groups

In addition, the government has also provided relief for other vulnerable groups, such as age pensioners and those living in rooming houses. According to the new rules:

Age pensioners: Previously, people receiving the age pension could stop receiving cost of living relief if their adult child also lived in the home.
Rooming houses: Previously, only one person could claim cost of living relief in a rooming house, even if the majority of residents were on low incomes.

These changes are aimed at ensuring that households with different living situations, including dependent children or shared accommodation, can get the right support.

Government financial commitment

The South Australian Government has made significant investments in cost of living relief schemes following the 2022 election, aimed at easing financial pressures on low-income residents. This includes doubling the cost of living relief in key areas and additional support for energy bills.

Nate Cook, the Minister for Human Services, said these efforts were aimed at making cost of living schemes “plainer, fairer, and more consistent.” He also acknowledged that low-income tenants have faced significant challenges in light of the rising cost of living, and the government’s action is committed to alleviating these pressures.

Important dates and eligibility

South Australians who may be eligible for the $255.60 cost of living relief should apply soon, as the application deadline for 2024-25 is 31 December 2024. Here are some important details:

Eligibility Criteria	Deadline
Pensioners, Centrelink recipients, and low-income earners	December 31, 2024
Residents of South Australia meeting income criteria	Before the application deadline
People living in shared housing or transitional housing	Apply early

You may also be eligible for other household reliefs if you are eligible. The government requests that all eligible people send in their applications as soon as possible, so as not to miss out on this necessary help.

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Bigger perspective: Reducing living pressures

Overall, the rising cost of living in Australia is a concern, and the new measures of South Australia are an attempt to reverse the pressures faced by low-income citizens. Affordable living arrangements are provided for many people who have been at risk of homelessness through shared accommodation, the most common being rooming houses and transitional housing.

It is a clear recognition that today’s living circumstances need to change, and the government’s decision to remove rules based on the income of the household mates is warranted. These changes are designed to ensure that financial support is made available to people in all types of living situations who need it most, including more and more children who find themselves living with parents and more and more people reliant on shared accommodation to reduce living costs.

FAQs

Q. What is the new change in South Australia’s cost-of-living relief programs?

A. The changes allow more low-income residents, especially renters in shared homes, to qualify for financial relief like the $255.60 cost-of-living concession and energy support.