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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

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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives

The following list of authoritative resources is designed to address questions and concerns about renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives.

Federal Incentives
This section lists and describes several resources that contain information about federal incentives available to support energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) Home and Vehicle Tax Credits
http://www.ase.org/content/article/detail/2654
ASE's website organizes information into categories on energy efficiency incentives for home improvements, hybrid vehicles, and solar energy. The site includes details on eligible equipment, credit limits, and credit expiration dates.

Department of Energy (DOE) Financial Opportunities
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/
This website is focused mainly on information about matching funds, grants, and financing. Information is organized into categories for consumers, business/industry/universities, inventors (small business), federal energy managers, states, and Native American tribes. The site includes a section on energy efficiency and consumer home financing.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Energy Efficient Mortgages Program
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm
HUD's website provides information on Energy Efficient Mortgages. These mortgages can help homeowners finance the cost of adding energy-efficiency features to new or existing housing as part of their Federal Housing Authority-insured home purchase or refinance.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
This website has a page on "Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency." The information on that page is organized into categories for consumers (home improvements, cars, solar energy, fuel cells), home builders, appliance manufacturers, and commercial buildings. The site includes a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section providing answers about energy efficiency tax credits.

Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP)
http://www.energytaxincentives.org/
This website is sponsored by a number of government agencies, nonprofit groups, and other organizations. It focuses solely on information about federal tax incentives. Information is organized into categories for consumers, businesses, and builders/manufacturers. The site includes updates about enacted federal legislation and provides links to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms.

State and Local Incentives
This section covers websites that list and describe state and local incentives available to support energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
http://www.dsireusa.org/
DSIRE's website is sponsored by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). IREC is a nonprofit organization focused on standards, guidelines, and other activities to support renewable energy. This site contains information about various types of energy efficiency and renewable energy financial incentives provided by New York State and local governments and utility companies.  The data can be searched by location, technology (solar, wind, geothermal), sector (residential, commercial/industrial, government, utility), and incentive type (tax credits, bonds, grants, loans), and eligible and implementing sectors. The site is updated weekly.

New York’s Weatherization Assistance Program
http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/programs/weatherizationassistance/
New York’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides weatherization services to low-income persons throughout the state.  It is funded by the U.S. Departments of Energy, and Health and Human Services, and is the largest residential energy conservation program in the country.