• The Liberals will double the annual Cost of Living Payment to WA Seniors Card holders for one year.

• Seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately affected by increasing household costs.

• $28 million plan to benefit some of the state’s most vulnerable.

• Flow-on benefits for small businesses and service providers.

The WA Liberals have pledged to help ease the financial pressures on the state’s 368,000Seniors Card Holders by doubling the annual Seniors Cost of Living Rebate for a year.

WA Liberal Leader Libby Mettam announced the bonus payment today, saying seniors were disproportionally affected by cost-of-living increases.

“Seniors on fixed incomes - whether they are self-funded or on a full pension – usually have very limited capacity to absorb increases to their household budget,” Ms Mettam said.

“Thanks to the collective impact of spending sprees by both the State and Federal Labor Governments, inflation in WA is the highest in the nation and many seniors are really hurting.”

The Liberal initiative will see the annual payment for single seniors increase from $107.12 to $214.25, while for couples it will increase from $160.68 to $321.36.

Shadow Minister for Seniors Donna Faragher said seniors often faced unavoidable increases in the cost of essential services and products that allowed them to maintain their independence.

“With day-to-day expenses continuing to increase, many seniors are often disproportionally impacted and have to make difficult decisions around essential services and what they can and cannot afford,” she said.

Liberal Candidate for Murray-Wellington David Bolt said seniors living in the regions were often more impacted by price increases than those in the metropolitan area.

“The lack of competitive pricing and transport costs add to the cost of goods and services,” he said.

“It’s not uncommon in regional towns for there to be only one or two places where you can buy your groceries, get your car serviced, or access household services and medical treatment often requires travelling long distances.

“Seniors in the regions need to know a Liberal Government will have their backs with plans to relieve the hardships bought about by inflation under the Cook Labor Government.”

Ms Mettam said the Liberals' Building a Better Future Blueprint was a plan to bring down cost-of-living pressures for all Western Australians, including seniors.

“The Liberals want to see our seniors live their best lives by helping them buffer the increased financial strain they have suffered under the Cook Labor Government,” she said.