Personal Alert AssistanceSA

What Is This Payment?

Personal Alert AssistanceSA is a South Australian Government concession that helps older people who want to keep living independently but worry about being alone if they fall or have a medical episode. A small alarm worn as a pendant or wristband connects to a 24-hour monitoring service that can alert family, a nominated contact or emergency services.

The rule database tags it as a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. That means the questionnaire confirms whether you are likely to qualify, but the value is a subsidy towards the device and monitoring rather than a cash payment into your account.

Because it is aimed at preventing avoidable hospital admissions and premature entry into residential care, the scheme is assessed alongside aged-care supports — you must first have a My Aged Care assessment and a registered health professional must sign your application.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is eligibility_only with period: none. The scheme produces no direct cash payment; the value is a subsidy towards an approved personal alarm device and its monitoring service.

• A subsidised alarm device — typically a pendant or wristband you wear around the home.
• A monitoring service that responds when the alarm is pressed and can contact family or emergency services.
• Limited frequency: the subsidy can generally be claimed once every five years, so it is intended to cover the device, not an open-ended entitlement.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition below must pass before the scheme is offered.

1. You live in South Australia: state = SA. The subsidy is funded by the South Australian Government for SA residents.
2. You are aged 65 or over: age >= 65. The scheme is targeted at older people living independently.
3. You have a confirmed disability or illness: disability_or_illness_confirmed = true — a health condition that puts you at risk of falls or a medical emergency at home.

Beyond the questionnaire fields, the program requires a My Aged Care assessment and a sign-off from a registered health professional, so the alarm is matched to a genuine clinical need rather than general preference.

There is no separate income test built into the rule conditions, but you should keep evidence of your aged-care assessment and your health professional's recommendation, as both are needed when you submit the application.

How To Apply

The channel is online through the South Australian Government, supported by a My Aged Care assessment and a registered health professional's sign-off.

• Arrange a My Aged Care assessment first — this is required before the subsidy can be approved.
• Have a registered health professional complete and sign the relevant part of your application.
• Submit the application online and keep copies of your assessment and the health professional's recommendation as evidence.

Read the official Personal Alert AssistanceSA guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: living alone after a fall

Margaret, 78, lives alone in Adelaide and had a fall last winter. With a My Aged Care assessment and her GP's sign-off she applies for Personal Alert AssistanceSA and receives a subsidised pendant alarm, so the next time she stumbles she presses the button and the monitoring service calls her daughter.

Scenario 2: chronic heart condition

Giuseppe, 71, has a heart condition that occasionally leaves him faint. His cardiologist supports an application and the subsidy helps cover an alarm linked to a 24-hour monitoring centre, giving him the confidence to keep living at home.

Scenario 3: under 65 and not yet eligible

Helen, 62, has early-onset Parkinson's and worries about falls, but because age >= 65 is not met she does not qualify for this scheme yet — she explores other supports through My Aged Care and the NDIS in the meantime.

Scenario 4: no aged-care assessment

Raj, 80, tries to apply directly without a My Aged Care assessment. His application stalls because the assessment and a health professional's sign-off are required first; once he completes the assessment, the subsidy is approved.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming it pays you cash: the scheme is eligibility_only — it subsidises the alarm and monitoring service, it does not deposit money into your bank account.
• Skipping the My Aged Care assessment: an assessment is required before approval, so applying without one usually delays or blocks the subsidy.
• Forgetting the health professional sign-off: a registered health professional must sign part of the application; a self-declaration is not enough.
• Thinking under-65s qualify: the rule requires age 65 or over; younger people with disability should look at My Aged Care alternatives or the NDIS.
• Expecting to re-apply every year: the subsidy is generally available once every five years, so it is designed to cover the device, not annual costs.
• Not budgeting for ongoing monitoring fees: the subsidy helps with the device and monitoring, but you should confirm what residual costs remain with the provider.

Related Benefits

• SA DHS Equipment Program — subsidised aids and assistive equipment for South Australians.
• SA Home Oxygen Concession — electricity running-cost rebate for home oxygen users.
• SA Seniors Card — concessions and discounts for older South Australians.
• SA Public Dental — subsidised dental care for concession card holders.
• Age Pension — federal income support for older Australians.
• Carer Allowance — a federal supplement for carers.

Frequently Asked Questions