- Most congressional offices have full-time caseworkers, whose jobs consist of helping their constituents overcome challenges that arise with federal agencies and programs, such as Medicare, Social Security, and the Veterans Administration.
- Federal congressional offices may get thousands of pieces of mail each week. Although intentions are good, this high volume sometimes means that letters get lost in the shuffle or fail to receive the attention they need and deserve.
Key points to know and follow to help ensure that your correspondence is addressed and that your needs are met:
- Call the local office of your federal representatives to determine where the caseworkers are located, whether it's in the state or Washington, D.C.
- If available, most caseworkers will be willing to talk with you on the phone, and an initial phone call may prove helpful in order to establish a relationship and to develop a personal contact. However, a written letter is typically required before an office is allowed to pursue action on your behalf.
- http://www.loc.gov is a helpful Web site address for identifying your federal representatives and for finding contact information. You should then choose the heading "House Directory" or "Senate Directory," which then provides another option for choosing congressional members by state.
- If you are unsure of who represents you in the House of Representatives, you may also want to refer to http://www.house.gov/writerep/, which allows you to determine your congressional district by filling in your zip code.
- The blue pages of your local telephone book are also a helpful resource.
- Caseworkers may also be able to intercede on behalf of some private insurance issues. Typically, their involvement is limited, consisting of putting you in contact with the appropriate department at the state level and forwarding your information to them. However, it is important to note that having your information sent to a state department or having a call made on your behalf from a federal representative may prove very helpful.
Usually making contact with one office is sufficient, but it is important to keep in mind that some offices may be more responsive than others, due to workload, size of staff, etc. If one office fails to provide help, you may wish to contact another. (Each individual is represented by two U.S. Senators and by one member in the House of Representatives.)
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