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Constituent Services

  • Constituent Services

    Step 1 -- Introduction to Casework
    How Can I Help You?

    Providing assistance to my constituents is one of my most important duties as your representative in Congress, and I am always happy to provide you with casework service. Typical requests for casework involve lost documents or a federal agency dragging its feet in getting you the help you need.

    Before contacting me for aid, it is important that you first try to work with the federal agency you are having trouble with. These agencies are helpful and responsive, and most issues can be solved by contacting them in writing. However, if you find that contacting them does not yield results, I would be happy to advocate on your behalf.

    To determine whether I can help you with your situation or if you need to find assistance elsewhere, please proceed to the next step "Casework Determination."

    As always, if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

    Step 2 -- Determining How I Can Help
    Is this casework or not?

    I am able to assist you with a casework request as long as it deals with a federal agency, or one that reports to the executive branch. Some examples of federal agencies:

    • Social Security Administration
    • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
    • Department of Homeland Security
    • Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA)
    • U.S. Postal Service

    I am only authorized to help you with issues involving these federal agencies after you have tried handling the issue through the agency first. Most federal agencies are helpful and responsive and would be happy to provide the aid you need. However, if after you have contacted them in writing you still do not get results, I would be glad to provide the help you need.

    And although I will try my best to help you in any way I can, the federal agency with whom you are dealing always has the final say in the matter. Please also keep in mind that I am unable to provide you with legal assistance or act as your legal counselor or representative. Because of the constitutional separation of powers, I do not have the authority to intervene in judicial matters such as criminal court proceedings, civil disputes, or deportation hearings.

    Local and State Issues

    There are many issues affecting constituents that cannot be solved at the national level, but can be solved at the local level. If you are having trouble with a state agency, you should contact your representative in the New York State Senate or Assembly or your local representative. Some examples of local or state issues:

    • Child support
    • Criminal and police investigations
    • Worker's compensation
    • Housing or rent issues
    • Lost or stolen driver's licenses or other important state documentation

    To find your State Senator by ZIP code, click here. To find your State Assembly member by ZIP code, click here.

    Step 3 -- How to Open a Case
    Once you contact me, I can begin to assist you

    After you have determined that your request is something we can help you with, fill out a request form and fax or mail it to one of my district offices, or deliver it in person. The Privacy Act of 1974 does not allow our office to assist you until you have filled out this form which releases information to our office from the agency with which you are having trouble. Be sure to attach a brief description of the problem and any documents you have pertaining to your case. This may include medical documentation, financial records, letters of support, and recent correspondence with the agency. Click here for a PDF version of the casework request and authorization form.

    Casework is typically handled at my district offices in the Bronx, Westchester, or Rockland. To put in a casework request, contact the district office that is closest to you and be sure to provide as much information as possible so we can help you as quickly and as effectively as we can. You can do this by either calling the office or filling out the Casework Authorization Form and faxing it or bringing it into one of my offices.

    Bronx District Office
    3655 Johnson Ave.
    Bronx, NY 10463
    Phone: (718) 769-9700
    Fax: (718) 796-5134

    Rockland District Office
    261 West Nyack Road
    West Nyack, NY 10994
    Phone: (845) 735-1000
    Fax: (845) 735-1963

    Westchester District Office
    6 Gramatan Ave., Suite 205
    Mount Vernon, NY 10550
    Phone: (914) 699-4100
    Fax: (914) 699-3646

    It is a privilege to serve you and help you get the federal aid you need. Once we receive the document, please allow a few days for my office to contact you about your request, and we can begin addressing your concern as quickly as possible.

    Sincerely,

    Congressman Eliot L. Engel

Housing Assistance

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO FORECLOSURE PREVENTION RESOURCES

Below is a list of steps for individuals who are having trouble with their mortgages and may face foreclosure. It includes information on the most prominent foreclosure prevention efforts, but is not an exhaustive list or a substitute for housing counseling. 


1) Talk to your Lender or Loan Servicer of your Current Loan 

Your loan servicer is responsible for collecting your monthly loan payments and crediting your account. Speak to your loan servicer about refinancing options, including the federal programs detailed below, state finance initiatives, and any other loan modifications that are appropriate for your financial circumstances. If you require help in identifying the company that handles your mortgage you can use the online resource of MERS® Servicer ID or its phone-based MERS Servicer Identification System at 1-888-679-6377. 

2) Talk to a Legitimate Housing Counselor 

Housing counselors can help you understand your mortgage options, negotiate with your lender and avoid foreclosure assistance scams. If you have worked with a qualified housing counselor, you should contact them again. If you need help in locating qualified a HUD-approved housing counselor in your area, call HUD's interactive voice response system at 1-800-569-4287. Also, free telephone counseling is available 24/7 from the national HOPE hotline at 1-888-995-4673 or www.hpfonline.org, which connects callers with English- and Spanish-speaking counselors from HUD–approved housing counseling agencies. The hotline is operated by NeighborWorks, a national organization which also awards housing counseling grants. The list of grantees and foreclosure resources can be found on the NeighborWorks website at www.nw.org. 

3) Contact State Foreclosure Prevention Programs 

New York State and New York City have also developed programs that offer affordable financial options for troubled homeowners. For more information on State programs, please contact the Division of Homes and Community Renewal at 212-668-4000, or visit their website at http://www.nyshcr.org/.  For more information on City programs, please contact the New York City Housing Development Corporation (NYCHCD) at 212-227-5500, or go to their website at http://www.nychdc.com/.

4) Contact the Federal Government About Federal Foreclosure Assistance Programs 

The Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program is a critical part of the Obama Administration's broad strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, stabilize the country's housing market, and improve the nation's economy.

Homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low rates. And for those homeowners for whom homeownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program can provide a way out which avoids foreclosure. Additionally, in an effort to be responsive to the needs of today's homeowners, there are also options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth.

For more information on federal programs, please visit http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.  You may also contact the National Servicing Center (NSC) at 1-877-622-8525, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Outreach Center at 1-800-225-5342, or the national HOPE hotline at 1-888-995-4673.