Constituent Services

Constituent Services
October 14, 2005

I consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of Ohio's Third District. Thank you for entrusting me to be your advocate in Washington. As part of my work as your Congressman, I often get requests for help dealing with federal benefits, programs, or other federal agencies. On staff in Dayton, I have professionals who take up those causes and deliver results. This week I want to highlight the work of one member of our team who consistently has an impact on the lives of many people in our community.

Ruth Snyder is one of our Congressional Caseworkers. She acts as a liaison for people who are experiencing problems with the following Federal agencies: Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Administration, and the military. She also works with the Department of State in matters concerning passports and birth documents. Ruth is a life-long resident of the Dayton area. She has worked in my office since I was sworn in and for the five preceding years for Tony Hall.

Some of the cases Ruth has worked on are remarkable. For example, Ruth worked with one woman for over 2 years on a Social Security disability claim that the woman filed, and then had denied. The woman appealed her case all the way to Federal Court. In September, 2004 the Federal Court overturned the denial. Even though her attorney had been notified of the Federal Court's conclusion, the decision had not worked its way through the bureaucracy, and therefore the woman was unable to receive payment. Ruth intervened and the process started moving. Within a few months, the woman received over $45,000 in back pay due to her.

Another example concerned the widow of a veteran who was granted survivor benefits by the Veterans Administration in 2002. When she appealed the onset date of those benefits, the VA ruled that she should not have been granted benefits in the first place, and stopped payments to her. Due to her age (87) and her ill health, Ruth successfully petitioned the VA to expedite the widow's appeal of that decision. The claim was denied again. The widow appealed again and the claim went to the Board of Veterans Affairs (BVA) in Washington, DC. Ruth once again successfully expedited the hearing. In May of this year, the BVA advanced her case on the docket and in June, made a decision to reinstate the survivor benefits. She received a payment of over $18,000 this past July.

Another case concerns a college student. Because her father was retired from the military, his daughter was eligible for the Child Annuitants School Certification program. She was attending an area college with the program paying her tuition through the DFAS (Defense, Finance and Accounting Service). Suddenly DFAS stopped paying her tuition. She was having no luck getting anyone at DFAS to help her. Ruth was able to contact DFAS and get the issue resolved. Now, the student is able to concentrate on studying because her tuition is being paid in accordance with the agreement of her father's military service.

Another resident of the Third District became eligible for Medicare earlier this year but had not yet received his Medicare card. He needed a surgery (although it was not an emergency surgery) but his doctors would not perform the operation until they were assured he had coverage. Ruth called Medicare and was told that there was a backlog, but that they would process his paperwork as soon as possible. It usually takes about 3-4 weeks for the card to be sent out. Therefore, Ruth had the Medicare office fax a letter he could show his doctors stating the man's eligibility. The letter was enough of a guarantee for the doctors to perform the surgery.

These are a few examples of the many problems Ruth Snyder has helped people with recently. If you are having difficulty dealing with government bureaucracy relating to Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Administration, the military, and the Department of State in matters concerning passports and birth documents, Ruth may be able to help you. She is a great professional and a significant reason my office is able to serve the needs of the residents of the Third District so well. Other staff members may be able to help with other agencies.

While not every case results in the desired outcome, my staff and I do all we can, within the confines of the law and our federal jurisdiction, to help with problems dealing with federal agencies. If you are having a problem and there is a clear federal role, my office and staff may be able to help. If you have questions you can call my office in Dayton at 937-225-2843, or in Wilmington at 397-383-8931. We are all here to serve the citizens of Ohio's Third District.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/10.14.05.shtml