Constituent Services
A constituent recently reached out to our office after struggling to receive his 2024 joint tax refund. The IRS was unable to process the return due to issues verifying W-2 information from both employers. Despite repeated follow-ups, the Taxpayer Advocate Service continued to say the return was simply “processing.”
Over the weekend, one of our constituents was turned away at the airport due to an unexpected travel document issue. Our team immediately stepped in, and by Monday, we secured an urgent passport appointment that got their travel plans back on track.
We’re always here to help our neighbors navigate unexpected hurdles. If you ever need help with a federal agency, don’t hesitate to contact our offices: Staten Island at 718-568-2870 or Brooklyn at 718-306-1620.
A few weeks ago, a constituent contacted our office after having difficulty securing a flight home from Israel following a visit with a friend due to the Iran-Israel war causing air space to close and flight cancellations.
Our office helped her enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which ultimately enabled her to return safely to the United States through Jordan.
A few months ago, a constituent reached out to our office for help because he did not receive his 2023 tax return.
After looking into the issue, a trace was conducted and our office discovered the check had been stolen in the mail. We're pleased to report that the check was replaced and the constituent has now received his refund.
Our office recently assisted a constituent whose 2023 tax refund check was stolen in the mail twice, and a third check could not be delivered to their home ongoing since last year.
After contacting and working with the IRS, we were able to help the constituent successfully receive their tax refund. In response to issues like this, Nicole helped pass bipartisan legislation in the House that would allow taxpayers to receive replacement payments via direct deposit—eliminating the risk of theft and need to re-mail payments, saving taxpayers millions.
Our office recently assisted a local nonprofit organization serving the special needs community in successfully maintaining its federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status after an filing error was made.
This designation enables the organization to continue receiving critical funding through tax-deductible donations and ensures they can continue their vital work serving those with disabilities in our community.
Our office was recently contacted by a senior citizen whose Social Security checks had been stolen multiple times in the mail. After we intervened, they successfully recovered three months of missing payments.
If you've had a U.S. Treasury-issued check stolen and fraudulently cashed, our office may be able to help. Please reach out to us at:
Staten Island: 718-568-2870
Brooklyn: 718-306-1620
Our constituent, a former NYC Sanitation worker impacted by 9/11 injuries, was owed additional lost earnings beyond his ¾ pay retirement. Despite five years of efforts, he and his attorney saw no progress due to New York City Employees’ Retirement System failing to provide necessary documentation to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
After our office intervened, the VCF reviewed his amended claim and, on February 6, 2025, issued a decision awarding him the funds he was rightfully owed
Our office recently helped an Army National Guard veteran resolve a frustrating issue with Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). After paying off a substantial debt in February 2023, the veteran was shocked to find it had unexpectedly reappeared during deployment.
For two years, he continued making payments on this erroneous debt with no resolution. Upon learning of his situation, our office immediately requested an expedited review from DFAS. In less than three weeks, we successfully secured a full reimbursement.
