How can Chuck help me?
We can help you in a variety of ways with
Federal agencies. We can make inquiries on your behalf about the
status of any pending cases before any Federal agency. We can
also often offer advice about which agency would be best to handle
your concerns, and help you navigate the sometimes confusing web
of services offered by the Federal government. Unfortunately,
we cannot offer legal advice or intervene in pending litigation.
How do
I ask Chuck for help?
The best way to quickly obtain assistance
for a personal problem concerning a federal agency is by sending
a letter to our New York City office.
Providing all the information requested below will
enable our office to review your case and work on your behalf
with the appropriate Federal agencies. Under Federal privacy laws,
government agencies require a written SIGNED letter from the person
seeking assistance.
Please make sure that your correspondence contains
the following:
Brief explanation: Please describe the situation
with which you require help as briefly and clearly as possible.
The more clear and concise your explanation, the faster we can
handle your case.
Privacy Waiver: Please include a signed statement
that says: "In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, you
and your staff are hereby authorized to freely discuss any and
all aspects of my situation." This gives us the authority
to handle your request. For a sample privacy waiver form in Adobe
Acrobat format with fill-in fields, please
click here.
Identification numbers: Please include your social
security number as well as any case or file
numbers.
A daytime telephone number: Please provide a way
to enable my office to reach you should more information be needed.
Our address is:
757 Third Avenue, Suite 17-02
New York, NY 10017
For information regarding
the status of a case that is pending with US Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS), Click HERE
Can you
help people who live outside New York State?
No. If you are not from New York, any inquiries you send to us
will be forwarded to one or both of the Senators who represent
your state.
Can you
help me with a problem I'm having with a state or local government
agency?
Any problems you are having with state or local agencies —
including problems with Medicaid, food stamps, and welfare —
should be addressed to your State
Senator or Assembly
person.
Can you
help me with a legal problem I'm having?
Unfortunately, we can't. Senate rules prohibit our office from
giving legal advice or intervening in pending legal proceedings.
If you need to find a lawyer, you should contact the American
Bar Association's Correspondence Unit at (312) 988-5522 and they
can help you.
How can
I apply for Social Security benefits?
Please click
here for a link to the appropriate section of the website
of the Social Security Administration.
How do
I get a Social Security card?
You need to contact the Social
Security Administration's New York Regional Office.
How do
I get a Medicare card?
Please call 1-800-772-1213. You'll need your medicare number.
How do
I find the status of a case that is pending at the US Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) or at an Embassy or Consulate
overseas?
For assistance with cases
pending overseas, click
here.
For assistance with cases pending in the U.S.,
click
here.
How
do I get a passport?
Passports can be obtained by applying at
selected post offices and Clerk of Courts Offices. If you require
a passport within three weeks you may find it advisable to pay
an additional fee for express mail to ensure that your passport
arrives on time. Detailed information and printable forms can
be found
here.
What
do I do if I've been a victim of discrimination at work?
If you believe you have been the victim
of employment discrimination, you should contact the New
York or Buffalo
offices of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission. The phone number for the New York
City office is (212) 748-8500. The Buffalo office can be reached
at (716) 551-4441. If you're not sure whether your complaint violates
Federal law, click
here for an explanation or call my New York City
(212-486-4430) office for further assistance.
What
do I do if my workplace is dangerous or unhealthy?
The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration can address concerns related
to workplace health and safety. OSHA operates a number of offices
in New York State that should be contacted if you require assistance
in these areas:
Phone Fax
Albany Area Office (518) 464-4338 (518)
464-4337
Bayside District Office (718) 279-9060 (718) 279-9057
Buffalo Area Office (716) 684-3891 (716) 684-3896
Long Island Area Office (516) 334-3344 (516) 334-3326
Manhattan Area Office (212) 466-2482 (212) 466-2939
Syracuse Area Office (315) 451-0808 (315) 451-1351
Tarrytown Area Office (914) 524-7510 (914) 524-7515
Can
you help me get a job in the Civil Service or Postal Service?
We cannot. In most cases, Federal law prohibits
us from recommending candidates for these positions.
Can
you help me get a prison transfer?
Unfortunately not. Prison system officials
are in a much better place than we are to judge the merits of
your situation so it would be improper for us to intervene.
Useful
Links:
Immigration:
Forms
How
do I?
Frequently
Asked Questions
Social
Security:
Top Ten Services
Frequently
Asked Questions
Apply to
Retire
Medicare:
Useful
Contacts
Find
a Doctor in New York