Constituent Services

Help with Federal Agencies

Search for answers to your questions or problems on these federal agencies' websites below. You may also find a specific agency form you may need. If you can't locate the information you need, you can initiate a casework request with Congressman Town's office.

Social Security
• How To Apply
• Services
• Benefits
• Forms
• Disability
• Frequently Asked Questions

Immigration
• Become a Naturalized Citizen
• Forms

Department of State
• Visa Services
• Passport Services
• Passport Forms
• Travel Warning

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Medicare General Information
• Medicare Eligibility/Enrollment
• Compare Health Plans
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Medicaid Services

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Forms
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Taxpayer Advocate
• Toll Free Hotline (PDF - 1 page - 31KB)

Department of Education
• Student Guide to Financial Aid
• Application for Federal Student Aid

Veterans Affairs
• Veterans benefits
• VA Cemeteries

Small Business Administration
• Small Business Loans
• Frequently Asked Questions

Other Links
• HUD: Home Buying
• U.S. Postal Service
• FTC: File a Consumer Complaint

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Casework

As your Congressman, one of my most important jobs is helping 10^th District constituents when they have problems with a federal government agency. Cutting through the red tape and obtaining answers to your questions from federal agencies can be frustrating and time-consuming. Whether you are looking to obtain a simple answer to a question, an application form, or my direct intervention on your behalf, my staff and I are ready to help.

What is Casework?

Often, you can receive an answer or resolve your problems or difficulties by directly contacting a federal agency or by visiting their website. However, sometimes additional help is needed. In such cases, my staff and I will open a case for you and act as a liaison on your behalf. While I will always do my best to assist you, my staff and I cannot guarantee a particular outcome in your favor. However, you can be assured that your case will receive fair and timely consideration.

Note: Under rules established by the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, I am unable to provide legal and/or tax advice.  Click here for free taxpayer assistance from the IRS. (PDF - 1 page - 31KB)

How Do I Open a Case?

You should follow the steps listed below to help my staff and I assist you more effectively.

• Complete a Privacy Release and Casework Questionnaire Forms (PDF - 2 pages 104KB)  (The 1974 Privacy Act requires that I obtain your written permission before I can contact anyone on your behalf.  This federal law is for your protection.)
• Please explain in detail the problem you have with a federal agency and provide any supporting documentation. Be sure to locate all necessary documents that support your case and make copies of them for my office. These can include letters from the agency, applicable case numbers, and other forms and correspondence relating to your problem.
• Click here to determine where to send all of your documents.

How Will My Case be Handled?

Once I have received your written permission and all supporting documentation, I will contact the federal agency on your behalf. An agency's response will usually vary depending on the complexity or urgency of individual cases. When an agency's response is received, my staff and I will notify you via phone or letter. If your case did not result in a favorable outcome, information about how to file an appeal to this decision or further steps you may want to take will be enclosed.

What Federal Agencies Do You Provide Assistance With?

I can assist you in your difficulties with all federal departments, independent agencies, and government corporations. Click here to find some of the agencies that most constituents come in contact with and that generate the most casework.

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Obtaining a Federal Grant

Available Grants

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (Catalog) is the primary source of information on federal grants and non-financial assistance programs, although the actual funding depends upon annual budget appropriations. For each program, the Catalog defines the objectives of the program, eligibility requirements, the application and the award process, post assistance requirements, past fiscal year obligations and future estimates, program accomplishments and examples of funded projects, related programs, and information contacts, including regional or local offices of federal agencies if applicable. The "Regional or Local Office" section of the Catalog specifies the agency contact person and telephone number to be contacted for detailed information, updates and related programs.

The printed Catalog is widely available in libraries in all states. Grant seekers can request a copy at a local library or obtain a list of government depository libraries throughout the country via the U.S. Government Printing Office website. All of the program descriptions, indexes, and appendixes of the printed Catalog are searchable electronically and free of cost on the Internet. Phone orders can be placed by dialing 1-866-512-1800, and are available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern time.

How to Write a Proposal

The links below describes major components of a grant proposal and gives basic guidelines for developing, organizing and writing the proposal.

• Developing and Writing Grant Proposals
• Elements of a Grant Proposal
• Proposal Writing: A Short Course

Other Grant Related Links

• Finding Grants

U.S. Service Academy Nominations

Each year I have the opportunity to nominate young residents of New York's 10^th District to each of the U.S. Service Academies who are interested in pursuing a military career.  Each Member of Congress is allowed a maximum of five appointees at each academy during any given year.  Members are authorized to nominate up to ten individuals for each vacancy in the entering class.

Eligibility Requirements

Academy Applicants must be:

• U.S. Citizen
• Permanent resident of the 10^th District of New York
• At least 17 years of age but not yet 23 as of July 1 of the year of admittance.
• Unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.  (marriage and age requirements vary for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy)

Information Required By Congressman Towns

At minimum, applicants must be in good academic standing and are required to submit their most recent high school transcript.  Permanent residents of the 10^th Congressional District who are interested in applying for a nomination for admission to one of America's military service academies should contact my Court Street office.

Office of Rep. Ed Towns
26 Court St., Suite 1510
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 855-8018

Service Academy Information

In addition to a nomination from a U.S. Congressman or U.S. Senator, candidates must apply directly to the service academy of their choice. For more information on the admission requirements at each academy, please visit their websites below or contact their admissions offices directly.

• United States Military Academy (West Point, NY)
  Admissions Office
  Building 606, Thayer Road
  West Point, NY 10996-1797
  (845) 938-4041


• United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
  Admissions Office
  Colorado Springs, CO 80840-5651
  (719) 333-2520


• United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)
  Admissions Office
  Annapolis, MD 21402-5019
  (410) 293-4361


• United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY)
  
  Admissions Office
  Kings Point, NY 11024-1699
  (800) 732-6267


• United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, CT)
  Admissions Office
  New London, CT 06320-4195
  (800) 883-8724

Note: There are no Congressional nominations to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.