Congressman
John E. Peterson

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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