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Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty

Representing the 5th District of Connecticut

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Constituent Corner

Esty Secures Tax Refund for Simsbury Resident

December 8, 2016

SIMSBURY, CT—Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) this week shared a “Constituent Corner” story from Simsbury resident Michael Rosenberg, who experienced a lengthy delay in receiving his federal income tax return after moving from New York to Connecticut.

Rosenberg moved from New York to Connecticut in June of this year, and by September, he still had not received his federal income tax refund of $1,247 for 2015. After Rosenberg did his own initial outreach, the IRS requested he provide further proof regarding information on his tax return. Specifically, the IRS wanted further clarification about his wife, who had passed away in February 2015. Rosenberg and his wife had filed jointly while she was still living.

Esty reached out to the IRS and Taxpayer Advocate System to help move the case along, and ensure Rosenberg received his refund. Esty worked with the officials to understand what was causing the delay, and what information was still needed in order for his refund to be processed. Less than a month after Rosenberg contacted Esty’s office, he saw the refund deposited into his account.

“Rep. Esty and her staff were extremely courteous and professional. They provided professional and personal service to the process at the IRS to help me to procure my tax refund. Regardless of any particular party affiliation, Rep. Esty and her staff are the best office I have ever dealt with,”

Michael Rosenberg, Simsbury.

 

Esty Successfully Intervenes to Reverse Clawback of Danbury Veteran’s Bonus

November 28, 2016

DANBURY, CT—Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) this week shared a “Constituent Corner” story from Danbury resident David Vieira, who reached out to Esty for assistance in securing a refund from the California National Guard after the wrongful clawback of his bonus.

Vieira joined the Connecticut National Guard in 2007, and then transferred to the California National Guard in August 2008. He served in Afghanistan from 2010-2011, and was honorably discharged in 2013. As an incentive for enrolling in the National Guard, Vieira was issued a Student Loan Replacement Program (SLRP) incentive. Bonuses like the one Vieira received were issued to National Guard members across California.

In 2012, just within a year of returning home from Afghanistan, Vieira received a notice of debt to the National Guard, which insisted he repay his SLRP incentive bonus. The U.S. Treasury Department informed Vieira it would soon begin deducting hundreds of dollars each week from his VA pension until this debt was paid off. The Pentagon had determined the National Guard had no right to issue these bonuses, and as part of the National Guard’s efforts to reclaim lost monies, began issuing debt notices to Guard members.

This issue followed Vieira as he moved in 2011 from California to Danbury, CT, where he currently resides. Earlier this year, he reached out to Esty for assistance in resolving this issue.

Esty worked with the California State Military Reserve, California National Guard, and National Guard Bureau to ensure all of Vieira’s bonus repayments would be expedited and refunded. Esty also released a statement denouncing the payments, calling the Pentagon’s clawback efforts “misguided.” Additionally, Esty wrote to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and National Guard Bureau Chief General Joseph Lengyel to thank them for suspending the bonus collections, and called on them to work with Congress to find a permanent solution. She also wrote to the U.S. House leadership urging Congress to remain vigilant and work with Department of Defense to find a solution to end unfair bonus recoupments.

After months of communicating back and forth with military agencies, Esty received word in November that Vieira’s case had been settled and he would be repaid in full.

“By the time I moved from California to Connecticut, I had begun to lose hope that anyone would help me reclaim the monies I knew were rightfully mine I have been lucky to have the support of Rep. Esty and her staff,” Vieira said. “I am sure that hundreds if not thousands of others have not been so fortunate and have found themselves fighting this battle alone.

“It was refreshing to hear that Rep. Esty cared enough to really help, as my previous experiences led me to believe that moving forward on this issue would never happen. I am glad that she is on the forefront of this issue now, and I pray that with her assistance we can help the thousands of others who desperately need a voice in Washington and at home to get them the resolution they deserve, that they earned. She is doing the right thing by trying to address and fix a broken system after hearing stories of hardship and mistreatment of our veterans.”

David Vieira, Danbury

 

Esty Helps Aspiring Danbury Doctor Secure Student Visa

October 4, 2016


 
 

DANBURY, CT—Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) this week shared a “Constituent Corner” story from Danbury resident Mahshid Mohammadi, who reached out to Esty for help renewing her student visa.

Mohammadi, originally from Iran, is a Canadian citizen attending medical school in the United States. She has been traveling between Canada and the United States since 2011, tending to her husband and son in Canada while completing her schooling in the States. While home visiting her family and renewing her visa at the U.S Embassy this past May, the Embassy informed her that her visa issuance was currently under administrative processing.

Months went by, and Mohammadi heard nothing from the Embassy. She became worried something was wrong with her visa when the Embassy asked for her husband’s passport and other paperwork on his behalf. In light of the delays, Mohammadi expressed concerns about completing her residency and graduating on time to her residency program manager at the Connecticut Institute for Families, Inc. in Danbury. From there, her program manager recommended she reach out to Esty’s office for help.

Esty reached out to the State Department to inquire what had caused the administrative processing. Tthe State Department reported it had no reason on record for the visa renewal issue, and Esty worked with the State Department speed up the renewal process. As a result, the State Department finally processed Mohammadi’s visa, and asked Mohammadi and her husband to bring their passports to the Embassy to complete all the necessary paperwork. Once it was completed, Mohammadi’s visa issuance concern was resolved, and she received her visa.

“To my surprise, after two weeks, I got a call from Congresswoman Esty. She was the most helpful, and told me that the issue for both me and my husband was resolved, and the U.S. Embassy in Canada just needed my passport. I am sure that without her precious help, I would not have been able to move on with my residency training, and keep my family together. Thank you so very much.”

Mahshid Mohammadi, Danbury

Esty Helps Cheshire Senior Recover Thousands in Owed Government Payments

September 15, 2016

Cheshire resident Alice Caro went on Medicare in July 2014 with the intention of using her monthly Social Security benefit to pay for her Medicare premium. While this originally posed no problem, eventually the Social Security Administration (SSA) suspended her benefits, and Alice was left with no choice but to pay for her premiums and medications out-of-pocket. 

Caro depended on these monthly payments to manage her basic living expenses, and losing the payments presented an immense financial challenge. Caro knew Esty’s office routinely worked with federal agencies to resolve disputes, and reached out to Esty for help reinstating her benefits. 

Esty contacted the SSA to investigate why Caro’s payments had been halted. Once she spoke with SSA officials, it became clear a human error had triggered the termination. After realizing their error, the SSA quickly reinstated Caro’s monthly payments.  In addition, Esty was able to secure a refund for nearly $2,600, the amount Caro paid out-of-pocket while without her benefits. 

"Thanks to Congresswoman Esty, not only did I start receiving my Social Security benefits, but I also received a refund for all the out-of-pocket payments I was forced to make. I am so grateful to her office for resolving this matter."

Alice Caro, Cheshire

 

Esty Sets up Tour of Nation’s Capital for Wolcott Family

August 22, 2016

U.S. Capitol

Tom and Mary Szabo and their two daughters, Lauren and Kim, traveled to Washington earlier this month. Since this was the family’s first visit to Washington, they reached out to Esty’s office to organize a tour of the U.S. Capitol.  
The Szabo family enjoyed a personalized and educational tour of the Capitol led by Eliza, one of Esty’s interns. Some of their tour stops included the Capitol Rotunda, the House and Senate galleries (both which overlook the House and Senate floors), the Crypt, and the former Supreme Court chamber. Interns undergo rigorous tour training to ensure visiting residents get the full Capitol experience. The individualized tour catered to the Szabo family’s interests while providing them with a chance to learn more about one of the country’s most historic buildings.

The Szabo family left impressed by the accessibility of the Capitol office buildings and the helpfulness of Esty’s staff throughout their visit.

“The best part of our tour was seeing the House and Senate galleries. Even though Congress was out of session, we could imagine the excitement and feel the experience of Congress in action! I was surprised by how easily accessible the Capitol was by going through Congresswoman Esty’s office. The experience of navigating through the Capitol was not as stressful as I thought it would be.”

Mary Szabo, Wolcott

 

 

Esty Helps New Britain Entrepreneur Obtain Visa, Stay in Business

August 15, 2016

Rep. Elizabeth Esty with Nara Mijid


Nara Mijid, a Mongolian native, is a former professor at Central Connecticut State University and small business owner. Her business provides economic analysis, market research, and impact studies to help women- and minority-owned businesses in Connecticut.

After meeting Esty at her Community Resources Fair in May, Mijid requested a letter of support and assistance from Esty in order to acquire an E-2 entrepreneurial treaty investor visa. Esty wrote a letter on Mijid’s behalf to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), highlighting the importance of her work helping small businesses in Connecticut and her record of service as a businesswoman and teacher in New Britain.

After Esty’s letter of support, Mijid received a notice from USCIS that her visa was approved.

“I’m grateful to Rep. Esty for supporting my case to obtain an E-2 treaty investor visa. Transitioning from academia to a private practice was difficult, and to obtain an E-2 visa added another layer of difficulty. However, Rep. Esty and her staff’s dedication to my case helped me, and made it possible. I can proudly say that I am an aspiring entrepreneur.”

Dr. Nara Mijid, New Britain

 

 

 

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