FAQs

What is Federal Casework? +

Submitting federal casework typically involves contacting your elected representative in the United States Congress, either a Senator or a Representative, and requesting their assistance in addressing a problem or issue that falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
For our offices to submit an inquiry on your behalf, a few criteria have to be met:

You must have already initiated an inquiry with the federal agency. We can not begin the request or inquiry.
Example:
We must have a Privacy Release Form signed and dated by you (the constituent requesting help). It must be completed in its entirety. Please be sure to add supporting details to your case, including travel itineraries for passport cases, receipt numbers for immigration cases, etc. This helps streamline the process. Any errors or missing documents may delay the process.

How does the casework process go? +

After submitting your Privacy Release Form, we will reach out to the federal agency on your behalf.
As soon as the agency gets back to us, we will immediately follow up with you.
After 30 business days (not including weekends and holidays), we will follow up with the agency if we haven't heard back.
Be patient, but always follow up on your case. If you follow up before the 30 business day window, there is a possibility we don’t have a response yet.

It is important to remember that not all issues can be resolved by your representative and their staff and that there may be limitations on what they can do to help you. However, submitting federal casework can be a useful way to raise concerns and seek assistance from your elected officials at the federal level.

What can you help with? +

Helping constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy including helping constituents understand and navigate the complicated processes of federal agencies, such as applying for benefits, resolving disputes, or obtaining information.

Resolving problems with federal agencies such as helping constituents who are experiencing problems with federal agencies, delays in processing applications or benefits, mistakes on paperwork, or other issues.

Advocating for constituent interests. For example, a member of Congress may work to secure funding for a local project or to protect a constituent from unfair treatment by a federal agency.

Providing information such as information about federal programs, policies, and regulations. This can be particularly helpful for people who are not familiar with how the federal government works.

Can you help me with a case that involves a city or state agency? +

We can help with:

Addressing how Medicare may be covering your prescription drugs.
Navigating long-term care options provided under Medicaid and other federal programs.
Appealing a decision by Medicare that you believe may be unfair.
Following up on the status of a Medicare claim.
Accessing other federal services and programs available to seniors.

You may not need our help. Click on the following links for further information.

Medicare.gov: Apply for coverage, change plans, file a complaint or appeal, and much more.
Medicare Frequently Asked Questions: Find answers and general information quickly from Medicare FAQ.
2022 Medicare and You Handbook: Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issues a Medicare handbook to help seniors navigate the program.
Your Medicare Rights: Learn more about your rights under the Medicare program.
Medicare cards: Learn more about Medicare’s new cards. Due to privacy concerns, Medicare is in the process of replacing their traditional cards, which list a senior’s social security number.
Medicare supplemental insurance: Some seniors also pay for supplemental coverage by a private insurer. You can learn more about how that works here.
Medicare Fraud: Learn more about how scammers often try to take advantage of seniors, see how you can protect yourself, and report potential fraud.

Can you help me with Social Security? +

My office can help you with determining Social Security benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare eligibility. We can make an inquiry to request the status of your pending claim or submit a request for expedited review on your behalf. However, the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) determines if a case is “critical” and requires special processing under specific situations.

We can help you with:

Obtain an update on a pending application
Request information on your program eligibility
Clarify matters involving your benefits
Facilitate communication between a provider and CMS to resolve reimbursement and other matters

We cannot

Cannot force SSA or CMS to approve or reimburse an application or claim
Cannot expedite appeals unless approved “dire need” as defined by the respective agency
Cannot file your application for you

“I’m about to lose my house, what can I do?”, "Can you help me with my mortgage?" +

If you have tried to resolve a problem with your landlord or mortgage lender without reaching a solution, Congressman Ivey's office may be able to help.

You can access information on homeownership, avoiding foreclosure, rental assistance, and more in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Maryland portal. For general questions about HUD, contact the Baltimore Field Office on the fifth floor of the City Crescent Building, 10 S. Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. You can also reach them by phone at (410) 962-2520.

Have a dispute with your landlord?

The Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has a mediation unit that can help you try to resolve a dispute with your landlord. You can file a complaint online at their website, or reach them at (410) 528-8662.
The Legal Aid Bureau is a private, nonprofit firm that offers free legal services for residents seeking assistance in resolving a landlord-tenant dispute. Click HERE to find your closest office location and contact information.

Where can I find an affordable rental unit?

You can click HERE to use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's online search tool to find a low-rent apartment in Maryland.
For Prince George’s County residents, the Prince George’s County Housing Authority can assist you in finding an affordable rental unit, and provide housing assistance. You can find more information on their website HERE. You can also call their office at (301) 883-5501.
For Montgomery County residents, the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission can assist you in finding an affordable rental unit, and provide housing assistance. You can find out more information on their website HERE. You can also call their office at (240) 777-0311.

Can I live in a public housing community?

The Public Housing program was created to assist lower-income families in obtaining a safe place to live at a rent they can afford. Eligible applicants are leased within various public housing developments that are primarily HUD-financed and owned by the Housing Authority. Eligible low-income tenants pay about 30 percent of their gross adjusted income for rent. The rental assistance is attached to the unit so tenants cannot "take" the assistance with them if they move. Section 8 vouchers are not accepted.
To apply for Public Housing in Prince George’s County, contact the Prince George’s County Housing Authority at (301) 883-5501.
To apply for Public Housing in Montgomery County, contact the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission at (240) 777-0311.

Can I be moved up on the public housing wait list?

Unfortunately, Congressman Ivey's office is unable to expedite wait times.

What is a Section 8 Housing Voucher?

Formerly known as Section 8, the Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants that are issued a voucher are responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the participant's present residence.
A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the local Public Housing agency on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.

How can I avoid foreclosure?

The Making Home Affordable (MHA) program is the government initiative that helps struggling homeowners get mortgage relief through a variety of programs that aid in mortgage modifications, interest rate reductions, refinancing, deferred payment or transitioning out of your home while avoiding foreclosure. More than 100 mortgage companies have agreed to participate in the MHA program and all mortgage companies with loans owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to participate, though not all homeowners will be eligible.

I am not behind on my mortgage payments but I can't get traditional refinancing.

If you are not behind on your mortgage payments but have been unable to get traditional refinancing because the value of your home has declined, you may be eligible to refinance through MHA's Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). HARP refinance loans require a loan application and underwriting process and refinance fees will apply.

Where can I find a reliable home foreclosure counselor?

Click here for a list of all HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Maryland.

I think I am a victim of mortgage fraud.

The federal government's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offers a toll-free number you can call for mortgage-related complaints to make sure you're getting a fair deal on your mortgage, and hold banks and brokers accountable if you're not.
The CFPB will send each consumer complaint to the right financial institution for review and resolution. If the institution does not resolve the issue, then CFPB can directly investigate your issue and make sure that these financial institutions are held accountable for following federal law.
Call the hotline at 855-411-2372. You can also submit your complaints online on their website.

Passports +

My office can help by inquiring into your passport application and working with the Washington Passport Agency or one of the regional passport centers or agencies to ensure you receive your passport. The Washington Passport Agency is an arm of the U.S. Department of State. They are tasked with verifying citizenship and issuing passports to United States citizens who apply and pay a fee.

Please note that the Department of State requires a Privacy Act Consent Form to be signed prior to providing our office with any information on the status of your passport.

Occasionally, you may run into difficulties with your passport processing – whether it's an emergency need for international travel, difficulty in determining the status of your application, or missing documents.

For your convenience, we have provided the public number to the National Passport Information Center (NPIC). This number can be used to make appointments at any of the passport agencies nationwide and provide general passport information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY)

How my office may assist:

If you are traveling within 14 days:
- If you have not applied for your passport, my office can reach out to the Washington Passport Agency to request an appointment. The amount of passport applications has increased, as has the number of appointment requests. The Washington Passport Agency is trying its best to reply to congressional inquiries in a timely manner. Please note, we are only permitted to get an appointment at the Washington Passport Agency 72 business hours prior to your date of travel. We ask that you continue to call the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY) to check for appointment dates. You may receive an appointment before my office is able to confirm one for you.
If you are traveling outside of 14 days:
- If you have not applied for your passport, I ask that you call the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 (1-888-874-7793 TDD/TTY) and check for appointment availabilities.
If you are traveling within 30 days:
- If you already applied for your passport, my office can reach out to the passport agency or center that has your application. We will alert the agency/center of your travel date and request they issue the passport before your travel.
If you are traveling in more than 30 days:
- If you already applied for your passport, I ask that you continue to monitor your passport application status. Please note that the processing for expedited passports is 7-9 weeks from when the agency/center received your application. The processing for routine passports is 10-13 weeks from when the agency/center received your application. You may have to pay an additional $60 to upgrade your application to expedite. You can check when the agency/center received your application by checking your passport application status.

Note: With the current wait times for passports increasing, I recommend that constituents who need passport assistance from my office contact us 14 days prior to the date of travel. Additionally, for those who are seeking assistance with getting an appointment with the Washington Passport Agency, please keep in mind there are no guarantees. My office is only permitted to reach out 72 business hours prior to your travel date to inquire about an appointment at the Washington Passport Agency.