County boss: Social Security office condition is ‘deplorable’
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Interim Cherokee County Administrator Ben Clary doesn’t blame Spartanburg Social Security staff for their decision to leave their current county office, citing what he said are “deplorable” office conditions at Peachtree Centre.

But Clary and other county leaders are still unhappy with the recent decision in Spartanburg to no longer staff a Social Security office in Cherokee County.

Staff from the Spartanburg Social Security office spent four hours a month providing services to county residents at Peachtree Centre. In recent months, Clary said the Spartanburg staff had gradually reduced its time in Gaffney from twice a month to once a month.

“We had them in an office next to the kitchen that wasn’t much bigger than a closet. There was only room for one staff member to serve one person at a time,” Clary said. “One time a man looking for the Social Security office wandered into a steam room in the kitchen and almost got burned.”

Spartanburg officials have cited budget problems and a lack of staff as reasons for closing the Social Security Administration office in Gaffney. The office in Union will remain open.

Effective Jan. 1, Cherokee County residents will have to visit the Web site (www.ssa.gov), dial the toll free number 1-800-772- 1213, or travel to the Social Security Administration’s Spartanburg office on Magnolia Street.

County councilman Tim Spencer said the decision will create a hardship for county residents who need to speak personally with a Social Security Administration employee. These residents must now deal with a longer drive and waiting period to have questions answered about Social Security benefits.

“It will be kind of hard for some Gaffney residents to pay for a taxi to travel to Spartanburg,” Spencer said.

State Sen. Harvey Peeler said his office has been in contact with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham to discuss taking action to keep the Cherokee County Social Security office open.

Clary will present county council members with a resolution at its next meeting. The resolution will express support for legislative action to provide Cherokee County its own Social Security office with a full-time staff.

After discovering the Peachtree Centre office conditions, Clary said the county had worked in recent months to find new office space for the Social Security service.

The county administration arranged with Gaffney Housing Authority to provide free office space for the Spartanburg Social Security office staff inside the Beltline Community Center in Gaffney, according to Clary. This proposal was rejected by the Spartanburg Social Security officials, who cited the cost involved in installing computers, modems and phone lines at Gaffney Housing Authority.

“Social security has operated as a satellite office out of Spartanburg for many years. I would like to see Cherokee County have its own Social Security office,” Clary said. “If a needs assessment survey was done, I think it would show Cherokee has a need for its Social Security office.”