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Help with a Federal Agency

An important part of Congressman Thompson's job is to help residents of California's Fourth Congressional District navigate the complex federal agency system. If you are having trouble working with a federal agency—like the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the IRS—our office may be able to assist! Though we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to ensure you receive a fair and timely response.

Please note: our office cannot offer legal advice or recommend an attorney. The Rules of the House of Representatives prohibit the Congressman from intervening in or influencing the outcome of cases under the jurisdiction of any court. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) requires that Members of Congress or their staff have written authorization before they can obtain information about an individual's case. We must have your signature to proceed with this type of request.

To get help, individuals are required to complete and sign a privacy release form before elected officials can provide assistance with their cases. Before we can begin assisting you with your case, you must complete a PRIVACY RELEASE FORM. You can fill out that digital form or print it and mail or fax it to the appropriate district office. In some time-sensitive circumstances, however, information may be provided to a caseworker who has received verbal permission from a constituent by phone and can provide the agency with pertinent information, such as the constituent's full name, birth date, Social Security number, and/or a file number.