Constituent Services

Garbarino Helps Ensure Vietnam Veteran Receives Honors He Deserves

December 3, 2023

A Vietnam veteran qualified for multiple awards during his time in service but never received them, including a Purple Heart. My casework team reached out to the Department of the Army to assist in securing the awards. As a result, the veteran will now be receiving the medals and honors he earned for his service to our country.

Garbarino Helps Secure Disability Benefits for Sayville Resident

November 26, 2023

Constituent Services

A Sayville resident contacted my office for assistance after the Social Security Administration (SSA) halted his disability payments. The constituent, who undergoes regular treatments for a chronic illness, is only able to maintain part-time employment with income well below the SSA threshold. However, the SSA miscalculated his income, leading to the suspension of his payments and causing financial hardship. My office intervened by reaching out to the SSA, clearing up the discrepancy, and ensuring that the constituent’s disability benefits were resumed.

Garbarino Helps Secure Medicare Coverage for Brentwood Resident

August 27, 2023

Constituent Services

A Brentwood resident lost his Medicare coverage after being asked to pay a lump sum he could not afford. Although a family member eventually helped him complete the payment, his coverage had still not been reinstated seven months later, leaving him unable to see his doctor. After he contacted my office last Friday, my caseworkers reached out to Medicare on his behalf. By Monday morning, the constituent received a call from Medicare confirming that his insurance had been reinstated.

Garbarino Helps Lindenhurst Couple Resolve Identity Theft and Receive Tax Return

July 9, 2023

Constituent Services

A married couple from Lindenhurst had been fighting for a year to receive their 2021 federal tax return after falling victim to identity theft, during which a fraudulent tax filing was submitted in their name. My casework team worked with an IRS taxpayer advocate to resolve the issue. Within weeks of reaching out to my office, the couple received their long-overdue tax return check.

Garbarino Helps Prevent Flood Insurance Rate Hike

May 7, 2023

Constituent Services

A West Islip constituent had her flood insurance policy canceled through no fault of her own, which would have forced her to face increased rates and penalties under a new policy. My casework team stepped in, and the insurance company reversed its decision, reinstating her original rate and terms. This saved the constituent thousands of dollars per year in additional costs.

Garbarino Secures Long Overdue Tax Return for Retired Law Enforcement Officer

April 9, 2023

Constituent Services

A Center Moriches resident and retired law enforcement officer contacted my office for assistance with an amended 2018 tax return related to his disability pension, earned after 30 years of service. The IRS had owed him a tax refund amounting to thousands of dollars, which he had been fighting to receive for over four years. My casework team worked with the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate and ensured that the tax return was processed this week, finally delivering the refund he was owed.

Garbarino Secures Overdue Pension

March 26, 2023

Constituent Services

A constituent from East Islip contacted my office for assistance with receiving his Office of Personnel Management (OPM) pension. Despite retiring over a year ago, he had yet to receive his first payment. My casework team reached out to OPM and successfully expedited the payment process.

Garbarino Helps Ensure Continued Medicare Coverage

March 12, 2023

Constituent Services

A constituent contacted my office for assistance with her 99-year-old mother, who suffers from congestive heart failure. Medicare had informed her that her mother needed to be recertified to continue using the oxygen machine she relies on at home. Since her mother is housebound and unable to walk or leave the house, the constituent requested an in-home recertification visit but was denied. With her oxygen supply set to expire at the end of the month, the situation was urgent. My casework team reached out to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and determined that the oxygen supplier was mistaken about the need for recertification. As a result, her mother will continue receiving the oxygen she needs without interruption.

Garbarino Helps Stop Mail Fraud

February 26, 2023

Constituent Services

A constituent discovered that someone had fraudulently changed his address with the United States Postal Service, forwarding his mail from his Long Island home to an address in California. The situation became especially urgent as the constituent was awaiting the delivery of his passport for an imminent trip. After he contacted my office, my casework team worked with the State Department to track the passport, ensured the delivery was intercepted by USPS, and collaborated with USPS to correct the address and return all parcels delivered to California. This included his passport, bills, tax documents, and other packages.

Garbarino Helps Lay a Hero to Rest

February 12, 2023

Constituent Services

A veteran from Massapequa recently passed away, and his family was unable to locate his DD214, the document required to confirm eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The veteran's son contacted my office on Monday afternoon, and by Tuesday morning, my casework team had secured the necessary forms. The family can now lay their loved one to rest with the military honors he earned and deserved.