RELEASE: Gottheimer Meets with North Jersey Constituents, Discusses Success Navigating and Overcoming Federal Agency Bureaucracy, Securing Critical Benefits for Families

Above: Gottheimer speaks with Fifth District residents at Hillsdale Free Public Library.

HILLSDALE, NJ — Last Friday, February 14, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined with North Jersey constituents — including veterans, seniors, and families — to discuss how he helped them receive much-needed benefits, services, and care from the government — including military benefits, tax returns, health insurance coverage, and help with an adoption process.

Over the past two years alone, Gottheimer has helped more than 550 veterans access their VA benefits and service medals, more than 1290 Fifth District seniors access their earned Social Security checks; get more than 60 constituents back home from being stranded overseas, and helped more than 4,295 constituents get their unemployment benefits.

Gottheimer met with the following Fifth District residents today:

• Kimberly Karalia of Hackensack served in the Navy for four years, during which she received significant exposure to ionized radiation, leading to a cancer diagnosis. Kimberly had been waiting for nearly two years to hear back about her VA service connection appeal before she contacted Gottheimer’s office for help. Gottheimer’s office contacted the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to expedite her appeal with the Board. After years of waiting, Kimberly was finally granted her service connection decision, and Gottheimer’s office helped her receive payment for her owed benefits from 2021. 

• Reverend Patt Kauffman of Teaneck needed help accessing her Medicare benefits. Due to lack of coverage, her church was left with the bill to cover the extra $1,000 a month in payments. Gottheimer’s office was able to reach out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and the Social Security Administration and Reverend Kauffman received guidance to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B. Her application had been processed for an effective start date for the following month. 

• Patricia Laffler of Hackensack received an exorbitant medical bill from Medicare for her critical, life-saving medication. After reaching out for help, Gottheimer’s office found that Patricia had a zero-dollar responsibility for her medication and should have never received the charge in the first place. Gottheimer’s office followed up with Patricia to confirm that the issue had been resolved and to ensure she would have her medication.

• Kara DeBlasio-Gagliano of Dumont is a lifelong Bergen County resident and teacher in North Jersey for over 20 years. Kara had been fostering her son and had not received subsidies due from the State of New York for 14 months. The adoption of her 15-year-old son could not be finalized until the subsidies issue was resolved — delaying the adoption process. Kara reached out to Gottheimer and his Constituent Services Team looking for help. After Gottheimer’s office reached out to the State of New York, Kara received over $28,000 in back pay owed to her family and was able to complete the adoption of her son last Friday.  

• Debra Villano of Fair Lawn needed help with the IRS to receive her mother’s tax return after she passed away. After months of back and forth with no success, she reached out to Gottheimer’s office for assistance. Within three months, Gottheimer’s office was able to work with a Taxpayer Advocate and finally receive the tax refund to close her mother’s estate. 

“I’m always fighting for the Fifth District, not just by focusing on issues our nation is facing, but local ones as well. By taking care of Fifth District constituents, we’ve helped thousands of residents who’ve been denied Social Security checks, VA benefits, health care, or critical resources they need — all due to bureaucratic glitches or red tape,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “If you need help with any of the issues accessing Medicare, Social Security, passports, VA benefits, and so much more, please reach out to me.”

If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency, Gottheimer and his Constituent Services Team are here to listen and help with VA benefits, Social Security, Medicare, passports, delayed IRS refunds, and more. Reach out to Gottheimer in Fair Lawn at 201-389-1100, by email at HelpNJ5@mail.house.gov, or visit Gottheimer.House.Gov for more information and resources. 

Gottheimer was joined by Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sheinfield.

Below: Gottheimer speaks with Fifth District residents at Hillsdale Free Public Library.

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