Help with Federal Agencies/Casework
Many constituents contact my office when they have a concern which involves
a federal agency. If you would like assistance with a federal matter,
which is called casework, please contact my Titusville or State College
offices. You can also learn more about the casework
process.
Casework FAQs
I have posted information about common casework issues in the following
areas. Not only may they help answer your questions, but I encourage you
to explore these sites before contacting my office to ensure you have
all the necessary information.
- Social Security/Retirement &
Disability Benefits
- Medicare
- Labor/Unemployment
- Consumer/Communications
- Housing
- USDA/Agriculture
- IRS/Taxes
- Veterans
- Immigration/Citizenship and Immigration
Services
- Passports
- Military Pay Issues
- Active Duty Military
- Child Support
- Military Personnel Records
- Flood Insurance/Disasters/FEMA
- Federal Jobs
- General Questions/Request Government
Forms
FirstGov.Gov has also compiled a list
of commonly requested government services.
The Casework Process
If my office is in a position to help you, your request will be processed
and a letter will be sent out. This letter will acknowledge that we have
recieved your request and ask you for more detailed information about
your situation. Please see the following suggestions in requesting congressional
assistance with a federal casework matter:
• Clear Concise Letters [typed if possible] or
e-mails (Explain problem and suggested resolution – identify federal
agency involved)
• Also include contact information: Full Name, Address,
Telephone, e-mail address, and identifying numbers, SSA Number, Service
Number, Alien Registration #, USCIS receipt number, IRS Employer ID No.,
etc.
• Sign Letters. Due to Privacy Act Requirement,
all letters must be signed.
• Provide supporting documents such as most recent
correspondence from the agency.
• Allow staff reasonable time to work case (six
to eight weeks or longer depending on case inquiry and/or agency backlog,
each agency is different. More complicated cases such as immigration,
veteran affairs, Social Security and military may take much longer).
• Please keep calls to a minimum for a status check unless there
is a new development that the staff should be alerted to or you have not
heard from the office in 4 to 6 weeks.
• Due to the privacy law, the Congressional Office can only
speak to the constituent directly involved in the case. [No well
meaning calls from relatives or friends, please]
• If you receives information from an agency directly that resolves
the matter, please inform the congressional office in order that the case
may be closed in our records.
• Legislative initiatives and remedies that result from casework
can take many months and sometimes years.
• Please note that Congressional Offices assist constituents with
federal issues and we must refer you to appropriate
state legislators on state matters or state legislation. In addition,
we can only provide casework assistance to constituents who call the 5th
District home.
If you want to find out about the Representative's position on a pending
or enacted law, please send your written request to the Washington
office.
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