Kirkpatrick’s casework hits $1 million mark for savings, benefits to constituents

FLAGSTAFF – The district offices of U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., have reached the $1 million mark this year in casework savings and benefits to District One constituents who need help cutting red tape or solving problems with VA benefits, federal agencies or programs. This is the fourth consecutive year that Kirkpatrick’s caseworkers have surpassed the $1 million mark.

Kirkpatrick’s caseworkers help the people of Arizona’s District One navigate a variety of federal agencies and programs, acting as advocates for veterans with the VA and solving problems for seniors struggling with Social Security or Medicare.

Overall, 44 percent of Kirkpatrick’s casework has focused on helping veterans receive their benefits, addressing the backlog of claims and the difficulty of scheduling appointments at VA hospitals and clinics across Arizona. Another 17 percent of Kirkpatrick’s casework is related to Social Security, with the remaining cases related to housing, IRS and other federal issues.

“Casework is at the heart of our constituent service,” Kirkpatrick said. “We understand that solving these problems can directly improve people’s quality of life. These folks just need someone to fight for them – whether they are veterans struggling to get the benefits they’ve earned or homeowners facing foreclosure. I’m proud that our team works so hard to help people all across District One.”

Examples of casework success stories:

Casework savings/benefits: $14,964

When the mother of a disabled man was struggling financially because of medical expenses from her son’s condition, our office scheduled an expedited hearing with the Social Security Administration, which helped her son get disability support.

Casework savings/benefits: $1,400

A constituent’s tax refund was put on hold after the death of his wife caused errors in the IRS’s processing. Our office worked with the IRS and got him his refund.

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