The remote South Australian town of Ceduna will be the site of the first trial of the welfare debit card, which will hold 80 per cent of fortnightly payments and can't be used on alcohol or gambling.

In Ceduna, numbers of admissions to the alcohol sobering-up centre in one year are higher than the local population.

Community leaders in Ceduna hope a trial that restricts welfare payment spending will curb the harm caused by alcohol, drug and gambling addiction.

Community leaders are hoping a trial that restricts welfare payment spending will curb the harm caused by alcohol, drug and gambling addiction.

The debit card would otherwise act like any other eftpos card but without the ability to withdraw cash.