Josh Gottheimer represents New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District in the northernmost part of the state, which includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. He was first sworn in on January 3, 2017, and is now in his third term in office.
In Congress, Gottheimer serves on two Committees, including the House Financial Services Committee, where he is the Vice Chair of the National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy Subcommittee and a member of the Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets Subcommittee. Josh also serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, where he is a member of the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee and the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee.
For General Seniors Assistance
If you are a senior in need of assistance, my office would be honored to serve you. Please call us at (201) 389-1100 or click HERE to submit an inquiry.
For Help with a Federal Agency
If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. Click HERE to submit a request for help with a federal agency.
Request for Presidential Greetings
If you're a U.S. citizen and a resident of my District and would like to receive a greeting from the President of the United States, click HERE. Events eligible for Presidential greetings are below:
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Social Security Disability Claims FAQs
The Social Security Administration handles several important federal programs. Many contact me each month with questions about their retirement, Medicare, and their applications for disability benefits. For help, please call my office at (201) 389-1100 or click HERE to submit a question. Here are a few of the most common questions my office receives that deal with this agency:
How long does it take to process Social Security Disability claims?
An application for Social Security Disability can take from 6 weeks to several years to handle, depending on a variety of factors. For more information, visit the Social Security Disability Benefits page.
Visit the Social Security Regional Site to find your local Social Security office.
The times below are merely estimates, but represent what people in the District have experienced over the past few years:
Initial Processing - 6 to 8 weeks
- Some cases are approved in this first step. If your case is denied at this level, you are encouraged to apply for reconsideration.
Reconsideration - 6 to 8 weeks
- Like the initial processing, this is all done through paperwork. If your case is denied here, you are encouraged to request a hearing in front of an Administration Law Judge.
Hearings and Appeals - 9 to 12 months
- An Administrative Law Judge will hear your claim at this level. It usually takes 9 to 12 months to get a hearing. It can take a few months longer to get a decision. You may want to get an attorney or other qualified individual to help represent you in your hearing. If you are denied at this level, you can appeal your case to the Appeals Council.
Appeals Council - 24 to 36 months
- If your claim is not approved by the Appeals Council, your only option is to file a lawsuit if you want to continue your claim.
What can the Congressman do to help with my Disability claim?
I am always happy to help constituents who need assistance with a disability claim. For help, please call my office at (201) 389-1100 or click HERE to submit a question. However, there are limits to what I can do. At my request, Social Security officials will "flag" a particular case and keep me updated throughout the process. This communication can really help a person understand what is happening with their case, so they can make other decisions regarding their life and family.
However, I cannot act as the "representative" on a person's disability paperwork. You may want an attorney to help you with this. My actions will not affect the work done by the person you select as your representative. I also do not have the authority to overturn any decision made by the Social Security Administration.
After you file the paperwork for disability benefits with your local Social Security office, I would be pleased to follow the progress of your claim. If you would like my help, contact one of my District offices.
Welcome! I am honored to serve the people of 79 towns across norther New Jersey. On this page, you will find resources for grant applicants and towns requesting access for mobile office hours. Please call my office at (201) 389-1100 if you have any questions.
Grants
Our District has been one of the worst in the nation in terms of the return on vestment we receive for our tax dollars. For every dollar we send to Washington, we get back about $0.33 cents for our local communities– less than half of New Jersey’s state average. This section will help you apply for and win these grants to get the Fifth District a better return on the money it sends to Washington, DC.
This page will provide you with a central location to search the wealth of information available from both government and private entities who offer financing to individuals, businesses and state and local governments. The links on this page offer helpful information that will enable you research information efficiently and will guide you on writing grant proposals.
For assistance with navigating the federal grant application process, please contact my Return on Investment Director, who can be reached at (201) 389-1109 or by emailing jake.briggs@mail.house.gov.
Grants Research Request
For help identifying federal programs that offer grants for your organization, we suggest filling out a grants research request form. By filling this out, our Return on Investment Director will get in touch with you about opportunities for your organization.
Support Letters
Once you have identified the programs most appropriate for your use and have prepared a complete grant application, you may want my support for your proposal. To request a support letter for your grant application, please complete this form. In the past, my office has provided assistance and support to many local communities, businesses and organizations in their efforts to win federal grants.
Resources
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is designed to enable Federal grant-making agencies to create funding opportunities and applicants to find and apply for these Federal grants.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
A government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government.
The Federal Register
The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents.
Today's Federal Register and Archives (Grantsmanship Center)
Today's Federal Register gives current day's grants announcements, department and agency announcements of grant application review meetings, grant awards, deadlines, requests for comments on agency procedures, new rule reminders, and special events.
Federal Agency Contacts by State
Much of the federal grant budget moves to the states through formula and block grants -- state, regional, and local Federal offices often handle grants applications and funds disbursement. Each Federal agency has its own procedures. If the CFDA program description refers to a state or regional information contact as listed in Appendix IV, constituents/applicants should contact the federal department or agency office listed here before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.
Business and Nonprofit Gateway
A network of links to Federal government information services.
U.S. State and Local Gateway
Website developed to give state and local governments easy access to Federal government information. Includes Federal partnership programs links for states, city management, counties, legislatures, governors, cities, and mayors.
Resources For Nonprofits
Internet-related tools and resources for your nonprofit organization.
Foundation Finder
Search by name for address and basic information (including links to IRS filings and foundation websites) about for than 61,000 private and community foundations in the U.S.
For General Veterans Assistance
If you are a veteran in need of assistance, my office would be honored to serve you. Please call us at (973) 814-4078 or click HERE to submit an inquiry.
For Help with a Federal Agency
If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. Click HERE to submit a request for help with a federal agency.
Request for Presidential Greetings
If you're a U.S. citizen and a resident of my District and would like to receive a greeting from the President of the United States, click HERE. Events eligible for Presidential greetings are below:
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Veterans FAQs
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions concerning the Veterans Administration:
How can I get a copy of my military records (discharge, medical, etc.)?
This is also an area where a congressional office can really help. If you are trying to get records from your military service, or that of a family member, feel free to contact my office. I will need your written permission to help with this issue. To make that easier, you can print out this Authorization Form, and fax, email, or mail it to my office.
Most military records are stored at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Visit the National Archives website for more information.
How can I get the medals I was awarded during my service but never received?
In most cases, it is faster to get medals if you work through a congressional office. If you are owed medals from your service, just fill out this Authorization Form and fax or mail it to my office. Once I receive this information from you, I will be back in touch with you regarding any other paperwork that might be required to send the request to the proper officials.
Military medals are also an issue handled primarily through the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.
Internships
If you would like to apply for an internship with my office, either in D.C. or Glen Rock, click HERE.
Service Academy Nominations
I am honored to be able to nominate constituents as candidates for appointment at the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. If you would like to be nominated for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies, click HERE.
Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional District. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of District artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their District and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. For more information on applying for the Congressional Art competition, click HERE or call my office at (201) 389-1100.
Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a public effort to encourage kids to learn how to code through annual District-wide competitions hosted by Members of Congress for their District.
Students in participating Districts code original applications for the chance to be selected for recognition by their Member of Congress, win prizes, and have their work put on display in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. The District-wide competitions take place from July through early November.
For more information on applying for the Congressional App Challenge, stay tuned or call my office at (201) 389-1100.
Just for Kids
Below you will find exciting information about the United States government and other fun things.
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