I’m not getting assistance or timely help from a federal agency. What can I do?

Have you not received a federal benefit check you were expecting? Were you rejected from receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or other federal benefits and want to be reconsidered for the benefit? Are you having trouble with your Veteran’s benefits?

If you have questions about your federal benefits and you’re not getting answers from the federal agency in charge of the benefit, your next step is to reach out to one of your members of Congress who may be able to help.

What can your members of Congress do?

Help you communicate with federal agencies
Request information or a status report on your case
Request that an agency consider or reconsider your case
Submit an inquiry with a federal agency on your behalf
Assist with applying for benefits, such as Social Security or Medicare
Guide you in the benefits claim process
Help you get basic information from a federal agency

What can't your members of Congress do?

They can’t force a federal agency to act in your favor or speed up your case
They can’t provide legal advice or recommend an attorney
They can’t intervene with state issues. Reach out to your governor’s office or local elected officials if you need help at this level
They can’t intervene with judicial issues. They can’t legally get involved with pending litigation, including questions about criminal trials or imprisonment, child custody issues, deportation proceedings, or civil lawsuits. They can’t overturn or in any way influence a court’s decision

Reaching out to your member of Congress

To find your members of Congress, enter your home address here in the middle of the webpage under “How to Contact Your Member” and “Find your member by address:.” There you will find your 2 Senators and 1 Representative* whose offices can help you navigate what’s going on.

Choose 1** to reach out to – it doesn’t matter if you voted for them or even like them (but you shouldn’t let them know that necessarily) – their office can help you.

The best way to reach out to their office is through the channel they prefer, which is usually a form on their website. You will find it under titles such as “Constituent Services,” or “Casework,” or “Assistance,” or “Services”.

If you find it difficult to fill out forms online or just want a little extra help, you can reach their in-district office by email, phone, or in-person.

What you should think about and gather before you reach out

Which federal agency you need help with
If you have an open case with an agency, the case number they assigned you
Any paperwork that has to do with your benefit or claim

When you reach out

Likely when you first reach out, a case worker will ask you to fill out and sign a Privacy Release Form that will let them talk on your behalf with the federal agency in charge of your benefits or to talk about your case in detail.

Case workers will then work on your behalf to attempt to solve what challenges you have with a federal agency. If your request is urgent, call or visit their in-district office with your request to get the quickest response.

Take notes on what your case worker’s name is, what date you talked, relevant details they may mention including suggestions of other things you can do, and when you should expect a response about your request from them.

Follow-up

Follow-up on the timeline that the case worker gives you of when you should expect an answer about your request. If you don’t get a timeline for when you should expect a response, follow-up with the case worker every two weeks to see the status of your request.

*people who live in Washington, D.C. have 1 non-voting Representative and no Senators.

**if you are not receiving a response from the member of Congress' office you chose, choose another one of your members of Congress and start the process again.

Hours of operation Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264)

Text: 62640

Webchat: www.nami.org/help

Email: helpline@nami.org