Federal Casework
My office has always gone the extra mile to help Massachusetts residents resolve problems they are having with a Federal government agency. This help often takes the form of helping to expedite bureaucratic processes and bringing attention to individual cases that may have fallen through the cracks.
My office can help you with:
Military Issues
Veterans Issues
Medicaid/Social Security
Immigration
Passports
Internal Revenue Service
How to open a case:
1. Determine that your question or problem is something my office can assist you with:
• Cases I Can Help You With:
I can help you if you need assistance dealing with a federal agency. A federal agency is an organization that reports to the Executive branch of the United States Government such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Postal Service (USPS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to name a few. If your concern is with a federal agency, my casework staff is authorized to investigate on your behalf
.
•Cases I Cannot Help You With:
Unfortunately, I cannot help you if your problem is with a state or local agency, or if it is a judicial or civil matter before the courts. For any of the above problems, please contact the appropriate state or local official.
2. Prepare to open a case with my office:
In order for us to help you quickly and efficiently please fill click here to download/fill out/print our Privacy Release Form so that we may expedite your request.
For more information, call or write us in Senator Kerry's Boston office, or email us here.
Boston Office:
One Bowdoin Square
Tenth Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone - (617) 565-8519
Fax - (617) 248-3870
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET SLASHES FUNDING
Through $1.43 Trillion In Cuts, House Republican Budget Slashes Funding For Seniors' Health And Long-Term Care
06 Apr 2011
The proposed House Republican budget, introduced today by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, slashes $1.43 trillion over the next 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid by cutting critical health care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as children and their families, according to the consumer health organization Families USA. This radical proposal will also wipe out Medicare's guarantee of benefits and end Medicare as we know it by 2022.
The proposed budget contains dramatic cuts that will have a major, adverse impact on seniors and their families-especially by reducing help for seniors who need long-term care in nursing homes or at home. Medicare is primarily intended for people over 65 years of age, and the Medicaid program is the largest single payer of long-term care, including half of all nursing home costs.
"The House Republican budget proposal should be accompanied by a 'Grandma Beware!' sign," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. "The proposal will inevitably result in seniors losing the nursing home and other long-term care they need at a time when they are most frail. In addition to hurting seniors when they are most vulnerable, younger family members will need to give up their jobs so they can take full-time care of their parents and grandparents."
In addition to the effect on seniors, the proposed Medicaid cuts will cause major harm to children who need health care. Approximately 25 million youngsters depend on Medicaid for their lifeline.
Beyond the proposed Medicare and Medicaid cuts, the House Republican budget also substantially increases income taxes for middle-income families. It does so by eliminating tax credit subsidies, scheduled to go into effect in 2014, that are designed to help middle-class families pay for health insurance. For example, a family of four with an annual income of about $45,000 would lose a tax credit of approximately $10,400, effectively taking away their ability to obtain health coverage
"While seniors bear the brunt of the proposed Republican health budget cuts, many millions of children will also be harmed. Middle-class families will be denied tax relief and real help that they need for health insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones," said Pollack. "It is ironic and outrageous that these cuts are included in a budget that also extends huge, unneeded tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America."
Source:
Families USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles
06 Apr 2011
The proposed House Republican budget, introduced today by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, slashes $1.43 trillion over the next 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid by cutting critical health care for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as children and their families, according to the consumer health organization Families USA. This radical proposal will also wipe out Medicare's guarantee of benefits and end Medicare as we know it by 2022.
The proposed budget contains dramatic cuts that will have a major, adverse impact on seniors and their families-especially by reducing help for seniors who need long-term care in nursing homes or at home. Medicare is primarily intended for people over 65 years of age, and the Medicaid program is the largest single payer of long-term care, including half of all nursing home costs.
"The House Republican budget proposal should be accompanied by a 'Grandma Beware!' sign," said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. "The proposal will inevitably result in seniors losing the nursing home and other long-term care they need at a time when they are most frail. In addition to hurting seniors when they are most vulnerable, younger family members will need to give up their jobs so they can take full-time care of their parents and grandparents."
In addition to the effect on seniors, the proposed Medicaid cuts will cause major harm to children who need health care. Approximately 25 million youngsters depend on Medicaid for their lifeline.
Beyond the proposed Medicare and Medicaid cuts, the House Republican budget also substantially increases income taxes for middle-income families. It does so by eliminating tax credit subsidies, scheduled to go into effect in 2014, that are designed to help middle-class families pay for health insurance. For example, a family of four with an annual income of about $45,000 would lose a tax credit of approximately $10,400, effectively taking away their ability to obtain health coverage
"While seniors bear the brunt of the proposed Republican health budget cuts, many millions of children will also be harmed. Middle-class families will be denied tax relief and real help that they need for health insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones," said Pollack. "It is ironic and outrageous that these cuts are included in a budget that also extends huge, unneeded tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America."
Source:
Families USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles
Friday, March 11, 2011
HOMELESS VETERANS MASSACHUSETTS
New VA and HUD report finds 136,000 veterans spent a night in a homeless shelter during 2009.The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA have published the most authoritative analysis on the extent and nature of homelessness among our country’s veterans. “Veteran Homeless: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment to Congress” details the study’s findings, released in February, in a first-ever collaborative report of its kind between two government agencies. The most noteworthy finding: nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009, and around 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.
The report also notes that veterans are 50 percent more likely to fall into homelessness, compared to the rest of the population. This ratio is even greater among impoverished and minority veterans.
Additionally, veterans contrast the overall homeless population in the demographics that comprise it. About 96 percent of homeless veterans are single adults and about 4 percent are veterans with families; the general homeless population claims 66 percent of its members as single, non-attached persons. The study also found that 10 percent of veterans in poverty became homeless at some point during the year, compared to just over 5 percent of adults living in poverty.
Outside of conducting studies, the two agencies provide direct support to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans, while VA offers case management and clinical services. Since 2008, a total investment of $225 million has gone toward providing housing and supportive service for approximately 30,000 veterans who would otherwise be homeless.
The report also notes that veterans are 50 percent more likely to fall into homelessness, compared to the rest of the population. This ratio is even greater among impoverished and minority veterans.
Additionally, veterans contrast the overall homeless population in the demographics that comprise it. About 96 percent of homeless veterans are single adults and about 4 percent are veterans with families; the general homeless population claims 66 percent of its members as single, non-attached persons. The study also found that 10 percent of veterans in poverty became homeless at some point during the year, compared to just over 5 percent of adults living in poverty.
Outside of conducting studies, the two agencies provide direct support to homeless veterans. Through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans, while VA offers case management and clinical services. Since 2008, a total investment of $225 million has gone toward providing housing and supportive service for approximately 30,000 veterans who would otherwise be homeless.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
many nonprofits receive the majority of their funds not from individual donations but from service fees and contracts,
Special Report on the Government-Nonprofit PartnershipPosted By Bob Ottenhoff on December 9th, 2010, in these categories: Government | A new study underscores the vulnerability of state and local revenues and how it is beginning to impact nonprofit organizations. Released by the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), the special report concludes that “The decisions to rely on nonprofits to provide services have sound policy, economic, and administrative justifications. Yet the convoluted, disjointed, and patch-worked laws and practices by which governments contract with nonprofits have led to nonpayment, underpayments, and late payments to nonprofits, in part because contracting and reporting processes have become excessively complex and irrational.”
The report lists a few of the problems occurring in many states:
Government does not pay full cost of the services provided
Contracts terminated mid-term
Salaries frozen or reduced
Jobs eliminated
Late payments
Benefits eliminated
Burdensome contracting
Excessive reporting requirements
Among the shocking results included in the report:
Illinois’ Comptroller released a 50-page list of more than 2,000 nonprofits that the state has failed to pay almost half a billion dollars – and that’s for just the first half of this year;
New York’s Comptroller found that 92.5 percent of the state’s contracts with nonprofits were late and the state had delayed paying numerous nonprofits for multiple years;
The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that – for a single federal program – some states pass all dollars to the nonprofits to pay for the services while other states take funds for themselves; and
The Congressional Research Service warned, “It appears that governments, especially state governments, may be contributing to the financial difficulties of nonprofit organizations, even to the point of not paying for contracted services.”
NCN takes a surprisingly optimistic outlook on solutions – probably more upbeat than I can muster as we work through this recession. Their special report concludes, “Although the convoluted ‘system’ is multi-jurisdictional, multi-layered, and excessively-complex, the solutions are fairly straightforward. Rather than requiring a big investment of money, most of the solutions can be achieved through intentional coordination and discipline in follow-through to make positive change for those being served, taxpayers, and the community at large.”
If you’re interested in learning more and sharing information about what is happening in your state (for better or worse) as well as your ideas for healing the broken system you can go to this link: http://www.govtcontracting.org/.
One comment
1 comment to Special
The report lists a few of the problems occurring in many states:
Government does not pay full cost of the services provided
Contracts terminated mid-term
Salaries frozen or reduced
Jobs eliminated
Late payments
Benefits eliminated
Burdensome contracting
Excessive reporting requirements
Among the shocking results included in the report:
Illinois’ Comptroller released a 50-page list of more than 2,000 nonprofits that the state has failed to pay almost half a billion dollars – and that’s for just the first half of this year;
New York’s Comptroller found that 92.5 percent of the state’s contracts with nonprofits were late and the state had delayed paying numerous nonprofits for multiple years;
The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that – for a single federal program – some states pass all dollars to the nonprofits to pay for the services while other states take funds for themselves; and
The Congressional Research Service warned, “It appears that governments, especially state governments, may be contributing to the financial difficulties of nonprofit organizations, even to the point of not paying for contracted services.”
NCN takes a surprisingly optimistic outlook on solutions – probably more upbeat than I can muster as we work through this recession. Their special report concludes, “Although the convoluted ‘system’ is multi-jurisdictional, multi-layered, and excessively-complex, the solutions are fairly straightforward. Rather than requiring a big investment of money, most of the solutions can be achieved through intentional coordination and discipline in follow-through to make positive change for those being served, taxpayers, and the community at large.”
If you’re interested in learning more and sharing information about what is happening in your state (for better or worse) as well as your ideas for healing the broken system you can go to this link: http://www.govtcontracting.org/.
One comment
1 comment to Special
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