AMIDST HARMFUL FEDERAL CUTS AND RISING HEALTH CARE CONCERNS, CONGRESSMAN RYAN’S C.A.R.E.S. VAN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, AND MEDICARE

Amidst Harmful Federal Cuts and Rising Health Care Concerns, Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van to Provide Assistance with Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare  

Amidst cuts, closures and uncertainty with federal funding for critical programs including Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, the C.A.R.E.S. Van is equipped to answer constituent questions regarding access to federal programs and benefits

The C.A.R.E.S. Van team will continue collecting responses about community experiences with Optum, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, in the Hudson Valley

During the first district tour, the Van reached over 1,500 constituents and logged 3,341 miles, helping Ryan’s team to secure over $30 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents

WASHINGTON, DC  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan announced the schedule of events for his mobile office, the Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van, across the Hudson Valley this April. Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van, staffed by his team of highly-trained caseworkers, will bring direct assistance with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and IRS to Hudson Valley families right in their own community. The C.A.R.E.S. Van team will also be ready to speak with community members regarding their experiences with Optum, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, to contribute to the Congressman’s ongoing inquiry into the company’s impact on health care in the Hudson Valley. The team is also equipped to aid constituents hurt by cuts, closures and uncertainty due to recent federal funding changes with any questions regarding Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. The C.A.R.E.S. Van has become a staple at community events and celebrations since June 2023.

“Amidst the cuts, closures and uncertainty with federal programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, we’re marshaling every tool at our disposal to help folks with our C.A.R.E.S Van. My team and I will be all over the district, bringing direct, one-on-one assistance to Hudson Valley families in their own communities,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “That includes continuing our community inquiry into Optum, which already has thousands of responses. Whether you need help with accessing a payment, need assistance navigating a federal program, or want to register feedback on your health care experience with Optum, we are urgently working around the clock to get you the answers you need and services you deserve.” 

Congressman Ryan’s C.A.R.E.S. Van assists constituents of NY-18 in accessing earned benefits, such as Veterans’ Affairs benefits and Social Security, federal grant funding, passports and visas, immigration and naturalization services, and resolving issues with federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service. 

“Congressman Ryan’s team was extremely polite, professional, and emphatic towards my situation as a disabled veteran,” said Middletown veteran Nicholas White. “They contacted me to inform me of everything and what they could do to assist. I was granted 100% P&T disability compensation. My wife and I couldn't be happier. Thank you!”

“We are so grateful for the excellent assistance we received from Congressman Ryan’s office,” said David Friedman of New Paltz. “For two years we have been trying to resolve a problem with the IRS, and because of the intervention of his office, the issue has been properly resolved, and we actually received interest on an amount due from the IRS! It took something special to get this matter looked at and Congressman Ryan’s office provided that!”

“My 2022 tax return was held up by the IRS for nine months,” said Robert Warhola of Kingston. “I had plans for my refund. The case worker assured me this problem could be resolved in two weeks. As promised, I received my refund electronically. It is nice to see our government working efficiently.” 

“Thanks to Congressman Ryan’s office, the IRS finally issued refunds this spring for 2 returns I filed back in 2021,” said Stacy Quinn of Rhinebeck. “ After a very frustrating year of follow up – including an appointment at the IRS regional office in Poughkeepsie, multiple IRS assurances that I would hear back but never did, and a request for help from a senator’s office that was ignored – I was about to lose hope.  Congressman Ryan’s office responded immediately, however, provided frequent updates, and I received the missing refunds in 6 weeks.” 

In the fall, the C.A.R.E.S. Van made a number of community stops at Hudson Valley Halloween and fall events to conveniently connect with families attending on accessing benefits and navigating federal programs. 

This past summer, Congressman Ryan launched a specialized C.A.R.E.S. Van series that connected Hudson Valley seniors directly with one-on-one assistance from the Social Security Administration, Center for Medicare, and dozens of community partners as well as his team of expert caseworkers who assisted with federal agencies. Over the summer, Ryan also utilized the Van to deliver help with veterans services and federal agencies like assistance accessing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, requesting military medical records, obtaining lost military awards, and more directly to veterans at veterans service organizations (VSOs) throughout the Hudson Valley.

In March of last year, the C.A.R.E.S. Van completed its first district tour, visiting every one of the 82 cities, towns, and villages in NY-18 in under 10 months. During the first district tour, the Van reached over 1,500 constituents and logged 3,341 miles to bring assistance directly to Hudson Valley families where they are at. The Van has been critical in assisting Ryan’s team in securing nearly $24 million in casework assistance for NY-18 constituents.

In November 2023, the C.A.R.E.S. Van was utilized to bring assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County for a one-day senior resource fair organized by Congressman Ryan’s Office. The Van also made multiple stops at veterans service organizations in every county of NY-18 during Congressman Ryan’s Veterans Week of Action, for events that delivered specialized assistance directly to Hudson Valley veterans and honored their service. 

Congressman Ryan mobilized the C.A.R.E.S. Van to assemble a coalition of community partners to deliver flood recovery resources during on-site events in communities impacted by last July’s devastating flooding.

The C.A.R.E.S. Van has also been used by Congressman Ryan to partner with other offices and organizations, such as the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, for specialty events.

Congressman Ryan has prioritized increasing the responsiveness and accessibility of these services. The C.A.R.E.S Van will visit every municipality in the district over the course of the next year, ensuring that every constituent has direct and easy access to vital federal services. 

The schedule for the C.A.R.E.S. Van’s Spring events is as follows and updates will be provided via social media. 

TUESDAY, APRIL 15:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

LaGrange Association Library – Community Room 

1110 Route 55

LaGrangeville, NY 12540

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Blodgett Memorial Library 

37 Broad Street 

Fishkill, NY 12524

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16:

11:30AM - 12:30PM

Village Green

6 Tinker Street 

Woodstock, NY 12498

THURSDAY, APRIL 17:

10:00AM - 11:30AM

Montgomery Free Library 

133 Clinton Street

Montgomery, NY 12549-1195

1:00PM - 2:30PM

Village of Maybrook Senior Center 

2 Senior Way

Maybrook, NY 12543

THURSDAY, APRIL 24:

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Goshen Public Library

366 Main Street

Goshen, NY 10924

2:00PM - 4:00PM

Chester Public Library 

1784 Kings Highway 

Chester, NY 10918

THURSDAY, APRIL 29:

11:00AM - 1:00PM

Stanford Town Hall 

26 Town Hall Road 

Stanfordville, NY 12581

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