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Constituent
Services
Sometimes
dealing with the federal bureaucracy is a challenge.
Congresswoman Lowey's office can help when you run
into problems on federal issues like Social Security,
Medicare, Veterans Administration claims, student
financial aid, Small Business Administration loans
and the I.R.S. Please click on one of the links below
for more information about how to solve problems in
the following areas:
If
your concern is outside of these issue areas, please
click 'here'
for further information about how Congresswoman Lowey
can help you.
For
information about the Military Service Academies, please
click here.
For
information about how to get a flag flown over the U.S.
Capitol, please click here.
Are you
and your family prepared for any potential emergency?
In this time of heightened security, we are all concerned
about the safety of our families and loved ones. Congress
is dedicated to ensuring the security of our borders,
ports, skies, and communities. While we hope that none
of us will have to execute emergency plans, each of
us must take steps to ensure the safety of ourselves
and our families.
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Do you and your family have emergency plans in case
of an attack or an emergency evacuation of the area?
- Have you created an emergency kit with food and medical
supplies that can transported in the event of an evacuation?
- Have you made an emergency plan with your child’s
day care center or school?
- Have you prepared your home and workplace for an emergency?
- If you or a loved one has a disability or special
medical needs, have you considered the accommodations
that will be necessary in the event of an emergency?
If you answered NO to any of these questions, please
take the time to visit www.ready.gov
or call 1-800-BE-READY to learn how to better prepare
yourself and your family.
Many constituents seek assistance obtaining a U.S. passport for travel outside the United States. For many Passport services, you must appear in person. For other services, you may send in your forms through the U.S. mail.
For passport information and to download the forms mentioned below, visit the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov
If you need a passport to travel in less than 2 weeks, you may make an appointment at the Norwalk, CT, office or the New York City office by calling the automated line at 877-487-2778, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are traveling within 72 hours, try to make an appointment early in the day, because you may be able to get the passport while you wait. Please note that these offices maintain different public operating hours. The New York City office is open 7 a.m to 3 p.m., and the Norwarlk, CT, office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Be sure to have your Social Security number available when contacting the Passport agency. You will also need proof of citizenship, current identification, two passport photos, the correct fees (credit cards preferred), proof of departure, and your appointment confirmation number. Walk-in appointments are not available.
If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you must bring a completed DS-11 form, which can be found at www.travel.state.gov to a regional Passport agency in person as well as proof of citizenship and identification, such as a driver's license or Social Security card.
If the applicant is a child under 14 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must appear and present evidence of the child's citizenship as well as evidence of the child's relationship to the parent or guardian. The child must also appear in person. Parents/guardians must have identification such as a foreign passport, valid driver's license, or residence card.
If your passport is lost or stolen, you must report the loss on form DSP- 64 which can be found online at www.travel.state.gov.
To renew your passport, please fill out the DS-82 form. Please return the completed application along with your most recent U.S. Passport to the Passport agency by mail. For expedited service, to be processed 3 workdays from receipt at an agency, an additional fee applies. You can usually pick up a DS-82 form at your local post office. The form is also available online at www.travel.state.gov.
The Rockland County and Westchester County Clerks’ offices serve as Acceptance Agents for the Passport Services Division of the U.S. Department of State. Residents can submit applications to and obtain forms from your County Clerk’s office, which will review and forward applications to the U.S. Passport Agency for processing.
Office of the Westchester County Clerk
110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Blvd
White Plains, New York 10601
Tel: 914-995-3080
Fax: 914-995-4030
Email: cclerk@westchestergov.com
www.westchesterclerk.com
Office Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
If you have further questions, feel free to contact my office at 914-428-1707 or 845-639-3485 or the National Passport Center at 877-487-2778.
Congresswoman Lowey is honored to provide services to veterans and their families in the 18th District. The following is a list of frequently asked questions to help veterans and their families about access to honorary medals and veterans' records.
QUESTION:
How do I obtain a copy of my military records?
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the official repository for records of military personnel who have been discharged from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Paper copies of military service and pension records can be ordered by mail from the facility that holds the records. Most records can be found though the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Military
personnel records
To obtain a copy of your full records or Report of Separation (DD214), you can do the following:
Contact NARA's fax on demand service at (301) 837-0990 and request Document Number 2255 (Standard Form 180)
Send your request in a letter to the address below and include: name used while in service, service number or Social Security number, branch of service, and dates of service.
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
If you are having problems obtaining your records even after following one of these steps, you may contact Rep. Lowey's office for assistance. Please submit your request in writing, along with your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, date of birth, and Social Security number.
If the request is on behalf of a relative who is deceased, the office will need permission in writing from the next of kin in order to find information on his or her behalf. If the veteran or next of kin is not able to give written permission, a copy of the power of attorney is needed.
QUESTION:
How do I Replace Military Records?
If discharge or separation papers are lost, duplicate copies may be obtained by contacting the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-51000. You should specify if duplicate separation or discharge document is needed. The veteran's full name should be printed or typed so that it can be read clearly, and the request must also contain the signature of the next of kin, if the veteran is deceased. Remember to include branch of service, service number or Social Security number, and exact or approximate dates and years of service.
If you are having problems obtaining your records even after following these steps, you may contact Rep. Lowey's office to seek assistance. Please submit your request in writing, along with your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, date of birth, and Social Security number.
If the request is on behalf of a relative who is deceased, the office will need permission in writing from the next of kin in order to find information on his or her behalf. If the veteran or next of kin is not able to give written permission, a copy of the power of attorney is needed.
QUESTION:
I qualify for a Bronze Star Medal. Can the Congresswoman
help me in obtaining my medal?
If you are an honorably-discharged World War II veteran who earned a Combat Infantry Badge or Combat Medic Badge during the war, you are authorized a Bronze Star for meritorious service. You must apply to have your records amended and be awarded the medal, orders, and certificate.
To apply for the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on your CIB or CMB, you must have your discharge papers indicating the award of the CIB or CMB, or a copy of the General Orders announcing the award. Please sent your request in writing to the Congresswoman's office and include your name, rank, and serial number. Please also enclose documentary evidence of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medic Badge. You can submit the DD Form 214 (Discharge Form) or General Order as proof.
If you have additional questions, please call Ken Famulare, Rep. Lowey's District Representative, at our office at (914) 428-1707.
The
Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA)
The Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA), a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, reviews decisions about benefit claims made by local VA offices and issues decisions on appeals.
Frequently
Asked Questions
QUESTION: What is an appeal
to the BVA?
An appeal is a request for a review of a VA determination on a claim for benefits issued by a local VA office
QUESTION:
Who can appeal?
Anyone who has filed a claim for benefits with VA and received a determination from a local VA office is eligible to appeal to the BVA
QUESTION:
When can I file an appeal?
You may file an appeal up to one year from the date the local VA office mails you its initial determination on your claim. After one year, the local VA determination is considered final and cannot be appealed, unless it involves a clear and unmistakable error by the VA.
QUESTION:
What can I appeal?
You may appeal any determination issued by a local VA office on a claim for benefits. For example, you may appeal complete or partial denial of your claim, or the level of benefit granted.
Some determinations by VA medical facilities, such as eligibility for medical treatment, may also be appealed
QUESTION:
What can't I appeal?
Decisions concerning the need for medical care or the type of medical treatment needed.
QUESTION: How do I file
an appeal?
To file an appeal, you should follow the instructions accompanying your documented decision. Begin by writing a letter, known as the Notice of Disagreement (NOD), to the same local VA office that issued the decision, stating that you disagree with the VA office's claim determination, and that you want to appeal it.
QUESTION: How long does
the appeal process take?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to estimate how long the process will take.
Today’s health care environment is very complex, and quite often questions and problems arise with insurance companies, Medicare, physicians, hospitals, and other health providers.
Many seniors seek assistance from Rep. Lowey’s office with Medicare claims that have been denied or spending caps that are placed on certain services. Other constituents ask for her help to get clear answers from their HMOs regarding claim decisions and the appeals process.
Listed below are websites that may prove helpful. However, please don’t hesitate to call the Congresswoman’s White Plains office at 914-428-1707 with your specific questions or problems if they don’t address your concerns.
It’s important for you to know that for her office to assist you with a health care matter, Rep. Lowey must obtain permission from you. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires that all parties must have an individual’s written consent on file before providing information about that person. Without written consent, she cannot make inquiries on your behalf. To get the process started, you can send a signed letter of consent to her White Plains office at 222 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605.
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Many constituents contact Representative Lowey’s office for assistance with immigration-related questions or cases. We are happy to help; however, please note that we cannot expedite cases due to the additional security and administrative clearances currently in place at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Services.
Below is helpful information on many aspects of the immigration process. If you need further assistance after reviewing this information, you may contact Representative Lowey’s office:
Representative Nita Lowey's office
222 Mamaroneck Ave. Suite 310
White Plains, NY 10605
Phone: 914-428-1707 or 845-639-3485
Fax: 914-328-1505
Frequently
Asked Questions
Citizenship
(N-400)
QUESTION:
What if I have not heard from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services after submitting my application months ago?
If you have already submitted a citizenship application (N400) to the USCIS, and you have not heard from USCIS, you can contact Congresswoman Lowey's office to find out the status of your application. The citizenship application process may take from 8 to 14 months. Additional delays may occur due to the lengthy processing time required for the completion of fingerprint security checks.
Write to Representative Lowey at the address above about your situation, and include your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, and Alien Registration number. In addition, please include copies of a cancelled check or money order or Immigration Receipt which shows payment of the N-400.
Permanent Residency (I-485) (Green Card)
QUESTION:
I applied for permanent residency months ago. My check for the application fee has been cashed already but I still have not received a response.
USCIS provides processing dates for applications based on the date your application was filed. To obtain processing dates, visit https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp.
Representative Lowey's office may be able to help constituents who have submitted Adjustment of Status applications (I-485) whose date of filing has, according to the website above, already been processed. In order to check on the status of your application, please write to Representative Lowey at the address above stating your problem, and include your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, date of birth, and Alien Registration number if available. In addition, please include a copy of the cancelled check or money order, a fee receipt, and/or the Notice of Action received, which states the date the application was received and the priority date.
QUESTION:
My Permanent Residency Card (Green Card) is about to expire. How and when should I renew it?
Permanent Residency cards may be renewed by filing form I-90. These applications may take a while, so it is important to submit an application at least 6 months before the current card expires. This application is available at the BCIS website - www.uscis.gov – in the "Form Online Section."
Employment
Authorization Cards (I-765)
QUESTION:
I am in urgent need for my Employment Authorization Card. I applied two months ago and have not heard back from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Can you help me?
Processing of work authorization permits, I-765, takes at least 90 days (3 months) from the date received. It can take longer. If you are an applicant who has been waiting more than 90 days, you may schedule an appointment through INFOPASS to visit the USCIS District office at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. INFOPASS scheduling is available at http://infopass.uscis.gov. After you schedule an appointment, you must appear at USCIS with a copy of your appointment letter, your valid passport, and the dated I-765 and biometrics/fingerprints receipts showing that you have been waiting for more than 90 days for your work authorization. At that time, USCIS staff will process your application in person.
If you have trouble using the INFOPASS system or you are not granted your employment authorization card when you visit USCIS, you may contact Representative Lowey's office at the address and phone number above so that we may try to assist you. Please include your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, date of birth, copy of the I-765 if available, and the date when the I-765 was originally submitted. Please note that we cannot expedite employment authorization applications and Representative Lowey's office can provide assistance only after the 90-day waiting period.
QUESTION:
My Employment Authorization Card is about to expire. How and when should I renew it?
In order to renew an Employment Authorization Card, you must file an I-765 application form. Because it currently takes 90 days to renew Employment Authorization Cards, it is imperative to allow for such time when reapplying for a new card. This application is available at the USCIS website - www.uscis.gov – in the "Forms Online Section."
Alien Labor Petitions
QUESTION:
My employer petitioned for me a couple of years ago, and I have yet to hear anything from Immigration. My lawyer tells me that this process takes a long time. How much longer will I have to wait?
Alien labor certification petitions take a couple of years to process. The labor petition is usually a three-step process that starts at the NYS Department of Labor, continues on to the U.S. Department of Labor, and then to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. While it does take a considerable amount of time to process these types of applications, Representative Lowey’s office may be able to check the status of your case.
If would like assistance in checking the status of your case, please write to Representative Lowey at the address above and include your full name, address, home and daytime phone numbers, full name and address of the employer, the application or case number, and the work position for which you are applying. While we cannot obtain specific information about your case, we can find out the status of the application and the department currently considering it.
QUESTION:
I have been asked to appear at the USCIS District Office in person, but the USCIS guards do not let me in. They claim I have to have an appointment. How do I get one?
To schedule an appointment with a USCIS Officer, you must access the Internet-based scheduling system called INFOPASS. You may access INFOPASS by visiting the following web address: http://infopass.uscis.gov. Carefully follow the instructions provided to schedule an appointment. Do not forget to print a receipt for your records.
If you have trouble using the INFOPASS system or accessing the Internet, please contact Representative Lowey's office for help at the address above.
It is important to keep your address current and inform the USCIS if it changes. If you already submitted an address change to the USCIS but are not sure if the agency made these changes, you may contact the Congresswoman's office to confirm whether or not the proper address change took place.
For additional questions and tips, you can refer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov. You can also call the USCIS National Customer Service Line at 1-800-375-5283.
If you have additional questions or concerns about immigration matters, you may call Representative Lowey's office at (914) 428-1707 or (845) 639-3485 to request assistance from one of her Immigration Specialists.
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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides a variety of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to veterans and others. In October 1996, Congress passed a law called the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 (PL 104-262). This legislation led to the creation of a medical benefits package, which is available to all enrolled veterans. Like the majority of standard health care plans, the medical benefits package emphasizes preventive and primary care, offering a full range of outpatient and inpatient services.
Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION: How do I receive benefits under the Medical Benefits Package?
To receive health care coverage under the medical benefits package, most veterans must be enrolled. Once enrolled, you are eligible to receive services at VA facilities anywhere in the country. You may use these services even if you have Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or private health insurance coverage. When traveling, you may obtain care at any VA health care facility without re-enrolling.
QUESTION: How do I apply for enrollment?
To apply, you must complete VA form 10-10EZ. The 10-10EZ may be obtained by visiting, calling, or writing any VA health care facility or veterans' benefits office. You can also call toll-free 1-877-222-8387, or access the form on the Internet at http://www.va.gov/1010ez.htm.
Additional information on enrollment, including enrollment forms and applications, can be found at http://www.va.gov/elig/.
You can apply for enrollment at any time.
QUESTION: Which
veterans do not have to be enrolled to receive health benefits?
You are not required to enroll if one of the following conditions applies:
- You have a service-connected disability of 50% or more;
- You want care for a disability that the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which the VA has yet rated, during the 12-month period following discharge; or
- You only want care for a service-connected disability.
To allow better planning of the available resources, the VA urges that even these three categories of veterans enroll with the VA.
QUESTION: Are
there any special benefits for recently discharged
combat veterans?
Yes, recently discharged veterans who served in combat locations can receive health care for conditions potentially related to their service for two years after their release from service. Veterans should contact the Enrollment Coordinator at the nearest VA health care facility for more information.
QUESTION: Is
it true that VA is no longer accepting new higher
income veterans for enrollment?
Yes, a veteran who applies for enrollment on or after January 17, 2003, and is assigned to Priority Group 8, will not be accepted for enrollment. Under the VA's decision, Priority Group 8 veterans already enrolled in VA's health care system can continue to receive care.
QUESTION: Which
veterans make up the Priority Group 8?
Veterans in Priority Group 8 have no compensable service-connected disability or other status making them eligible for a higher priority group assignment. They also have incomes that exceed $24,644 in 2003 for a single veteran and $29,576 for a veteran with one dependent, as well as incomes that exceed the geographically-based low-income threshold set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for public housing benefits.
QUESTION: What
can I do if I cannot afford VA co-payments?
You have two options:
- The first option is to request a waiver for paying your current debt. If you request a waiver, you must submit sufficient proof that you can not afford to make payment to VA. This process could take several months; please contact the Revenue Coordinator at the VA health care facility where you receive care.
- The second option is to request a hardship determination to avoid future debts. You will need to submit specific financial information about your current year income. A decision will be made based on information you provide.
Compensation & Pension Service
The Compensation & Pension Service is a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which administers a variety of benefits and services for veterans, their dependents and survivors, including, but not limited to: service-connected compensation (disability compensation), non-service connected pension (disability pension), and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
Frequently Asked Questions
QUESTION: What
Is VA Disability Compensation?
Disability Compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free.
QUESTION: Who
Is Eligible for Disability Compensation?
You may be eligible for Disability Compensation if you have a service-related disability and you were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
QUESTION: What
Is VA Disability Pension?
Disability Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are no longer able to work.
QUESTION: Who
Is Eligible?
You may be eligible if the following
apply:
- You were discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions; and
- You served 90 days or more of active duty with at least 1 day during a period of war. However, a federal rule (38 CFR 3.12a) requires that anyone who enlists after 9/7/80 generally has to serve at least 24 months or the full period for which a person was called or ordered to active duty in order to receive any benefits based on that period of service. With the advent of the Gulf War on 8/2/90 (which has not formally ended), service members now serve during a period of war time. They generally must serve 24 months to be eligible for pension or any other benefit. Again, note the exclusions in 38 CFR 3.12(d); and
- You have disabilities that keep you from working a regular, full-time job;and
- Your family income is below a yearly limit set by law.
QUESTION: How
Can I apply for Disability Compensation & Disability
Pension?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-526, Veteran's Application for Compensation or Pension. If available, attach copies of dependency records (marriage & children's birth certificates) and current medical evidence (doctor & hospital reports). You can also apply on line through the VA website at http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp.
QUESTION: What
Is DIC?
DIC is a monthly benefit paid to
eligible survivors of one of the following:
- Military service member who died while on active duty;
- Veteran whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease;
- Veteran whose death resulted from a non-service-related injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to receive, VA Compensation for service-connected disability that was rated as "totally disabling" for at least 10 years immediately before death or since the veteran's release from active duty and for at least five years immediately preceding death or for at least one year before death if the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999.
QUESTION: Who
are eligible survivors for DIC?
The surviving spouse if he
or she if one of the following:
- Validly married to the veteran before January 1, 1957;
- Validly married to a service member who died on active duty;
- Validly married to the veteran within 15 years of discharge from the period of military service in which the disease or injury that caused the veteran's death began or was aggravated;
- Validly married to the veteran for at least one year;
- Had a child with the veteran and cohabited
with the veteran continuously until the veteran's
death or, if separated, was not at fault for the
separation, and is not currently remarried.
The surviving child(ren) if
he or she is one of the following:
- Unmarried and under age 18, or between
the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school.
- Certain helpless adult children are entitled to
DIC.
QUESTION: What
is Parents' DIC?
Parents' DIC is an income-based monthly benefit for the parents, or parent, of a military service member or veteran who died from one of the following:
- A disease or injury incurred or aggravated while
on active duty or active duty for training;
- An injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty
while on inactive duty for training; or
- A service-connected disability.
QUESTION: Who
are eligible parents?
The term "parent" includes biological, adoptive, and foster parents. A foster parent is a person who stood in the relationship of a parent to the veteran for at least one year before the veteran's last entry into active duty.
QUESTION: How
Can I apply for DIC benefits?
You can apply by filling out VA Form 21-534 (Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits by a Surviving Spouse or Child), and submitting it to the VA regional office that serves your area.
Consumer
Protection
Lowey has been fighting for consumers’ rights both on the national and local levels. She knows that even the most vigilant consumers sometimes find themselves the victims of fraud. She has helped hundreds of constituents with consumer protection problems including: telephone and power outages, identity theft, billing problems, predatory lending, business fraud, train and airline transportation complaints, and other scams. For assistance with any of these consumer problems, please contact her White Plains office at (914) 428-1707.
Here are some helpful websites with tips regarding consumer protection:
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Social
Security is the federal retirement program. It covers
retirees, survivors, and the disabled, and works more
like an insurance policy than a retirement pension.
Americans pay into the Social Security Trust Fund,
and may collect benefits later in life. Each year,
Lowey’s office helps hundreds of constituents
with inquiries about retirement and survivors benefits
and the disability approval process. For general questions,
the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s toll-free
number is 1-800-772-1213. The most convenient way
to get forms, locations of the nearest SSA offices,
and other specific information, is to visit Social
Security's web site at www.ssa.gov.
You can apply for benefits online, in person or by
telephone. When you apply, make sure you have your
Social Security Number and an original birth certificate.
If you have further questions or are having difficulties
with Social Security, please call the Congresswoman’s
White Plains office at 914-428-1707.
Full
retirement triggers Social Security benefits.
For those born before 1938, full retirement age is
65. For those born later, full retirement age is gradually
increasing to 67.
Early
retirement remains as early as 62 and your
benefit is permanently reduced. For example, if you
sign up for early retirement, benefits are reduced
five-ninths of one percent for each month before you
reach "full" retirement.
Survivors
benefits are available to those who earned
a certain level of work credits through their lifetime.
If you earn enough credits while you were working,
certain members of your family may
be eligible for benefits based on your lifetime earnings
after your death. Family members may include widows
and widowers, unmarried children under age 18 and
your parents.
Disability
benefits are based on a person's inability
to work, which is expected to last at least a year
or to result in death. In order to qualify, you must
have earned enough credits on your own work record.
Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) is financed by general
tax revenue -- not Social Security trust funds --
but is administered by the Social Security Administration.
In order to qualify for SSI, you must be 65 or older,
blind or disabled, and live in the U.S. You must also
be a citizen or a qualified non-citizen. There are
income limits, which change from year to year, as
well as asset limits of $2,000 for one person and
$3,000 for a couple. Because the Social Security Administration
manages SSI, applications are dealt with by the local
Social Security office.
Tax
Refunds
Information
on Undelivered Tax Refunds in the 18th District
Each year, thousands of tax refunds go unclaimed across the country. This year, 87,485 tax refund checks have gone unclaimed – including 6,435 in New York State alone. These checks, which total more than $73 million, can be issued once taxpayers update or correct their addresses with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The average unclaimed tax refund in the New York Metro Area, including Westchester and Rockland Counties, is $1049.
Below are lists of residents of New York State and the 18th Congressional District who are owed tax refunds. The lists are organized by zip code, so please check by both your current and past zip codes if you have moved recently.
[The
following documents are in PDF format. In order
to view these materials, you will need the Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed on your PC. It can
be downloaded for free here.]
If you are owed a tax refund, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” website at the following address: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp
To update your address with the IRS, please fill out this change of address form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8822.pdf
Tax refunds can only be collected up to three years after the date the return was filed, so act now to ensure delivery of your unclaimed return.
Taxpayer Assistance for IRS Problems
For problems with individual or business taxes, you may contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).
- www.irs.gov (download forms)
- Call TAS at (212) 436-1011(Manhattan) or (914) 684-7268 (White Plains)
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CUT YOUR POWER BILLS AND SAVE ENERGY THROUGH EASY CONSERVATION STEPS
As energy prices rise and we work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, consumers can take a number of steps to decrease monthly power bills. Here are a few tips and helpful information to help lower your monthly bills.
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Clean or change filters regularly.
- Install a programmable thermostat or timer to keep the A/C and heat off when your home is empty and turn it back on before family members return home.
- Ceiling and other fans provide additional cooling and better air circulation, so you can raise the thermostat and cut down on air conditioning costs without sacrificing comfort.
- Choose Energy Star-labeled appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, air conditioners, furnaces, and home electronics to save up to 30% on your electric bill. Energy Star is the symbol for energy efficient products certified by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. An Energy Star clothes washer uses less water and energy, for a combined savings of up to $120 a year.
- Replace your four most-used 100-watt incandescent bulbs with four comparable 23-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to save over $100 on your power bills over three years.
- When they are not in use, turn off lights, TVs, stereos, computers, and activate "sleep" features on computers and office equipment.
- Consider motion detectors and sensors for your indoor and outdoor lighting.
- Insulate your home or use weather stripping and caulking to plug energy "leaks."
Visit the following websites for additional information on saving on your electric bill:
www.energysavers.gov
www.energystar.gov
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