Answers to Questions

Cost of Living Concession

27 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (30 July 2015).

1. What does the $2.6 million in additional resources, which were provided for the implementation of the cost of living concession, comprise of?

2. How many individuals/households are currently registered for the new concession and how does this compare to the number of people receiving concessions in the last financial year?

3. How many self-funded retirees who were previously receiving concessions will not be eligible for the cost of living concession?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

1. The 2015-16 state budget papers allocate $3.0 million for implementation and administration costs of the Cost of Living Concession (COLC) in 2015-16.

In 2014-15, $0.4 million was allocated towards implementation of the COLC. This figure increased by $2.6 million for 2015-16. This increase will be broken down as follows:

Database costs: $1,700,000;

Administrative costs: $240,000; and

Resourcing costs: $660,000

(including once-off implementation costs).

2. Eligible home owner occupiers who already received the Council Rates Concession will automatically receive the COLC and do not need to register. Only tenants who were not previously eligible for the Council Rates Concession need to register. Of the estimated 205,000 low and fixed income South Australians who will receive the COLC, approximately 160,000 are expected to be home owner occupiers, and 45,000 tenants. Consequently, the number of individuals/households currently registered for the COLC does not reflect the total number of individuals/households who will receive the COLC.

As at 11 August 2015, 27,914 applications (24,398 mailed application forms and 3,516 online applications) had been received for the COLC for the 2015-16 financial year. This figure will continue to increase as eligible tenants have until 31 October 2015 to apply.

In 2014-15, approximately 196,484 individuals/households (including 21,762 self-funded retirees with Seniors Card) received the Council Rates Concession. In comparison, approximately 205,000 individuals or households are expected to receive the COLC in 2015-16.

3. An estimated 12,270 of the 21,700 self-funded retirees who received the former Council Rates Concession will not be eligible for financial support through the COLC.