A local organization's resource center has helped about 500 Savannah River Site retirees recover $225,000 over the past six months - money that otherwise would have been unclaimed and left behind.
The SRS Retirees Association held its annual meeting Tuesday at USC Aiken where retirees Sue Crotts and Vicki Thomas spoke about the efforts of the resource center. The two worked together for 34 years at the Savannah River Site's solid waste area, specifically with transuranic waste.
On Tuesday, the two reunited while checking out tables manned by the resource center, United Way of Aiken, Savannah River Site, BlueCross BlueShield and other organizations that have helped retirees get their benefits.
Thomas just recently retired, but Crotts said the resource center has helped her significantly.
"They helped me with my deceased husband as far as the WageWorks program to get my benefits," Crotts said. "They've been really helpful with insurance issues and those kinds of things."
Several hundred other retirees attended the meeting and received information on their benefits. Then, the group gathered in the Etherredge Center auditorium to get updates on issues and also ask questions.
John Plodenic, past chairman of the organization, said the resource center has been a gift for the retirees, many of them dating back to the site's DuPont days.
We've learned a lot about where the real problems are, particularly with the older folks," Plodenic said.
John Veldman, chairman of the organization, added that the organization is looking to strengthen partnerships with the site and the Department of Energy.
"We want to do whatever we can in a fiscally responsible manner so that we meet our obligations to the retirees," Veldman said. "We want to build trust relationships with the retirees and DOE and I think we've gotten off to a great start."
The SRS Retirees Resource Center is in the Lower Savannah Council of Governments building, 2748 Wagener Road. Veldman credits the council with providing transportation and other opportunities for retirees.
The center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and appointments can be scheduled by calling the office at 803-508-7033 or toll-free at 866-845-1550.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013.
He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.