Spartanburg County Veterans Affairs held a town hall this month drawing veterans and their families to learn about health care, housing, tax exemptions, and long-term care resources — services the office says are frequently underused by the county’s aging veteran population.
The event brought together multiple organizations and resource providers under one roof, with a focus on veterans approaching or in their final years. South Carolina is home to more than 397,000 veterans, of whom approximately 63,800 are retired, placing the state among the top in the Southeast for retired veteran concentration. A Veterans Affairs study cited at the town hall showed SC military members generate more than $34 billion annually for the state’s economy and support more than 254,000 jobs — about 11 percent of the state workforce.
The Spartanburg County Veterans Affairs office organized the event specifically around geriatric care, housing options, certain tax breaks for qualifying veterans, and special services that advocates say many older veterans and their families do not know they are entitled to. The event was free and open to any Spartanburg County veteran or family member regardless of discharge status or era of service.
Spartanburg County is home to a significant active and retired military community, with connections to Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, and generations of veterans who settled in the Upstate after military careers. The South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs offers year-round enrollment for state and federal benefits at scdva.sc.gov. Veterans who missed the town hall can contact the Spartanburg County Veterans Affairs office directly to connect with a benefits counselor.
