Disability advocates hang shingle in Shelton

SSC Disability, a Social Service coordinators company, is changing its name to Freedom Disability and has expanded its operations into a new corporate headquarters in Shelton.

“We believe our new name, Freedom Disability, better represents our organizational goals and what we are trying to bring to those we serve,” said Jonathan Mayhew, president of Freedom Disability. “And the expansion to a new facility represents our commitment to the national disability services market, as well as our community here in Connecticut.”

The company, which was previously located in Milford, has moved into a larger, 22,000-square-foot facility, to accommodate the continued growth of the business, and Mayhew said the company plans to bring hundreds of new jobs to the state.

According to Mayhew, ”˜Freedom”™ was selected to represent the company’s mission to improve the lives of the disabled and provide them a sense of freedom that can come from receiving cash benefits through the Social Security Administration. He said these cash benefits pay for living expenses, transportation, medications and help put food on the table, eliminating many of the worries traditionally facing the medically disabled nationwide.

“We are pleased to be able to grow and offer new employment opportunities in an otherwise challenging economy,” said Mayhew. “Not only will we be hiring in Shelton, but we will also be adding remote disability advocates across the country and in our regional offices in Florida and Arizona.”

According to Mayhew, the company provides information and assistance throughout the country to those individuals living with a disability and seeking financial support through Social Security Disability Insurance, which is administered by the Social Security Administration.

Mayhew said working Americans contribute to the program with each paycheck through their FICA taxes. Benefit eligibility and monthly payment amounts are determined by the applicants’ medical conditions and past paycheck contributions.

“The move to Shelton will allow us to hire new employees from entry level to management to the professional disability advocates who will be representing our clients in court,” said Mayhew.

Mayhew said most applications do in fact end up in an appeals court. According to the SSA’s most recent published data, only 37 percent of applications for disability benefits through SSDI were successful in 2007. With low first-time success rates for those applying alone and an average 1.4 years waiting period for appeals, few can afford to risk the wait.

“We are committed to providing first time SSDI applicants, as well as those appealing a denial by the SSA, with the professional representation they need to get the benefits they deserve,” said Mayhew. “And since we are paid only when we are successful in winning a case, our clients can rest assured they will be getting the most thorough and diligent assistance possible.”