Josh Gottheimer constituent services, USA News (Hackensack, N.J.): U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer recently met with North Jersey residents whose cases his office helped resolve involving military pension payments, health insurance coverage, identity theft, immigration documents, and delayed federal tax refunds. Gottheimer, D-5th District, joined veterans, seniors, health care workers, and families to discuss their experiences obtaining assistance from federal agencies and private companies. According to his office, the cases highlighted involved more than $171,000 in recovered funds and resolved financial claims.
“One of the most important parts of my job is being an advocate and a champion for the families I’m lucky to represent here in North Jersey,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). He noted that his team has helped thousands of residents denied Social Security checks, unemployment benefits, VA benefits, critical health care, tax refunds, or crucial resources due to bureaucratic red tape.
According to Gottheimer’s office, its constituent services team has recovered more than $173 million for residents to date. Over the past five years, the office reported helping more than 780 veterans access Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and service medals, assisting more than 1,834 seniors with Social Security benefits, and recovering more than $2.6 million from the Social Security Administration. The office also reported helping more than 4,500 constituents obtain unemployment benefits, assisting more than 65 residents stranded overseas, and recovering more than $120 million owed to small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and residents by the Internal Revenue Service.
Sussex County Residents Receive Assistance
Among those highlighted was Suzanne Jackson of Highland Lakes, a registered nurse who has worked at Englewood Hospital for more than 40 years. Jackson contacted the office after UnitedHealthcare denied coverage for a prosthetic limb, determining it was not medically necessary. After Gottheimer’s office intervened, the insurer approved a K3 prosthetic with a microprocessor knee the following day, allowing Jackson to continue working 12-hour shifts. Another Sussex County resident, Kevin Noah of Vernon, sought assistance after waiting eight months for a federal income tax refund. Following intervention from the congressional team and the Taxpayer Advocate Service, Noah’s refund of more than $7,000 was released in less than a month.
Military Pension and Identity Theft Cases Resolved
Tom Gallagher of Mahwah contacted Gottheimer’s office on behalf of his brother, retired Air Force Maj. John P. Gallagher, whose military pension payments had stopped for five months following unauthorized bank withdrawals. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service restored the pension account and issued back pay within a week of congressional contact. In another case, Robert Lunzer of Englewood discovered that money had been deducted from his Social Security benefits for about a year due to a Small Business Administration COVID-19 loan of more than $93,000 that he never obtained. The SBA validated his identity theft claim, forgave the debt, stopped deductions, and refunded approximately $4,500.
Immigration Paperwork and Tax Relief
Joey Shimm of Tenafly sought assistance for his wife, Yoko, after her green card contained an error and her 95-year-old mother suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in Japan. The Newark USCIS field office secured an appointment for the following day, issuing an ADIT stamp in her Japanese passport for international travel. Additionally, Ann Marie and Jim Dunlop of Haworth received a federal tax refund of more than $22,500 following assistance with delayed paperwork, while David Mitnick of Glen Rock and Shelly Berger-Mitnick secured a $20,413.78 federal tax refund and a $4,427.59 penalty abatement after contacting the office.
