Success Stories

“My IRS Tax issue was resolved in a positive manner in my favor. The staff was very responsive and pleasant to work with. If anyone has any issues especially with the IRS, I would highly recommend them. The whole process was very efficient. The staff is a credit to Representative Spanberger.” — John Tyler, Orange

“I tried to solve the issue with the IRS FOR YEARS with no luck. Thank you so much for your help.” — Maged, Stafford

“When I first contacted Representative Spanberger’s office I was at my wits end and had no idea how quick and efficient they would be in assisting me with getting my tax return. Prior to calling the office, my employer had left the country not closing out their accounting business, nor letting the staff know that the company was closing, leaving all of us without a paycheck and our W2. Being semi-retired, I depended heavily on my tax returns. I filed in February 2024 and kept getting 120-day wait notices from the IRS. Once Representative Spanberger’s office got involved in June, I am on my way to receiving my return this week. Her office has renewed my faith in government and I’m motivated to get involved in my local government, this is where the impact can be made and felt. I had no idea there were so many people being affected by what was going on with the IRS until I joined Reddit and was reading how so many comments.” — Iris, Prince William

“It took a short period to work out my refund, which was held by the IRS for more than two years without a positive action. Congratulations for helping Veterans and Virginia people.” — Veni, Prince William

“Working with your office really impact my case, because my case was with the IRS since February 2022 and they were not able to solve it, until I contacted the office of the Congresswoman on February 8th,2024. Within one month the office of the Congresswoman were able to solved my case. My 2021 Federal Tax Returns was $6,214 with a interest of $793.31. In total I did received a check of $7,007.31 from the IRS. Am really grateful to the Congresswoman and her great team in her office. Excellent job done by Excellent team. ” —Emmanuel, Prince William

“Since 2019, I had unsuccessfully tried to receive a tax refund from the IRS. After exhausting all avenues, including working with an IRS advocate, I was at my wits end. I reached out to Representative Spanberger’s office. They responded immediately.  I provided all requested documents to her office. Within a couple months, I received my refund! It was a great experience. I felt as though Representative Spanberger’s office got the needed attention to resolve my problem.” — Rebecca, Stafford

“Representative Spanberger’s office staff were outstanding in providing easy to follow instructions in provision of background information to support a request to received a much delayed IRS income tax refund for 2022 which had been delayed for over nine months. The refund was received in about one month after I requested assistance through her office. This was the first time that I have ever contacted my congress person and I was pleasantly surprised how easy and successful it was. Although this was a relatively minor matter, it was handled in an outstanding manner and was a very positive experience. Thank you for your excellent service!!” — Norman, Spotsylvania

“Wow! In a matter of days your office resolved a problem with IRS that we had been working on for 2 and a half years! Working with your office was a pleasant, easy experience; working with IRS during the pandemic and since was time-wasting and exasperating. There is absolutely nothing user-friendly about their Website or telephone system, and based on our experience, one could easily conclude that requests for assistance end up in a black hole. When elected officials or candidates for office contend that the IRS does not need an increase in funding, do not believe it! The IRS needs a total revamping of its technology and a huge influx of new, well-trained personnel. Thank you to Representative Spanberger and her outstanding staff!! The online forms the office provided were very easy to use. After we sent the initial request for assistance, the follow-up was very timely and showed exceptional concern.” — Alane Callander, Stafford

“This was a great experience for me. I never had this kind of problem and really didn’t know what to do about it as every time I called the IRS, I was told my return was being processed. Then I read in our local newspaper where Rep. Spanberger was able to assist many people with this same problem. So, walla, I went to her website and the rest is history. It was really very simple. I can’t say enough about the staff of Rep. Spanberger. They were the most helpful and kind personnel I have ever dealt with. And, their timely response was just remarkable. I am so happy Rep. Spanberger is doing this service for so many people. We need more like Rep. Spanberger. She gets things done. Again, thanks for your help.” — Shirley McKelvey, Culpeper

“They worked in my case immediately. They call me and explain the process. They are very professional. I’m very proud of all personnel. Thank you so much to take time to resolve my issue. Thank you my Representative Abigail Spanberger and all your personnel in the office. NEVER WE FORGET YOUR HELP!! God Bless all.” — Teresa Vazquez, Prince William

“I tried for a year to get the IRS to process my tax return. After faxing information and making multiple phone calls to the IRS I could not get any response at all. I couldn’t even get information on exactly why the return was held up. I saw that Congresswoman Spanberger could help with resolving issues working with governmental agencies and contacted her office. Contacted by Shawn, he immediately opened up a channel of conversation to the IRS. And although it still took a few months I got my tax return processed by the IRS and my refund was actually higher than on my original return. My belief is that my return would have never been process with out Shawn and Representative Spanberger’s intervention.” — Dave, Spotsylvania

“I had been waiting almost 2 years on 1 year of back pay. The people at this government agency could see my check in the system. They would tell me, ‘Call back in 90 days if you haven’t received it.’ The 7th time I heard that, a friend suggested asking Rep. Spanberger for help. I gave Rep. Spanberger’s staff the pertinent info. So, maybe 2 weeks later, on 4/29/23, a absolutely gorgeous direct deposit greater me at breakfast. Thank you Abigail and staff. I enjoyed received email updates. After having waited over a year, I was beginning to feel like a mushroom. Thanks again.” — Brendan, Prince William

“We were able to cut through the red tape at the IRS and get a clear picture of how and when my installment payments were being made.” — Roberta, Prince William

“After one full year of trying to get answers, I was assisted and the problem was resolved by Spanberger’s office. Great communication and quick responses. Thank you so much.” — Janet Holden, Culpeper

“I had a problem with a mistake the IRS made on my 2019 tax return. After 3 years of trying to fix it myself, I was unable. Shawn got it all fixed in months and the IRS did indeed make the mistake. Top-notch service.” — John Phillips, Spotsylvania

“After waiting a year for our tax return we asked Rep. Spanberger for assistance. They were very quick to respond and thoroughly outlined an approach to solve the issue. Within two months of providing the necessary details, we received our return with interest. Each of the office staff that we spoke to were exceptionally knowledgeable and courteous. They specifically outlined expectations and necessary documents we needed to supply to ensure a positive outcome.” — Richard, Spotsylvania

“They helped by getting my tax refund that I have been waiting months for!!! Your office has helped me for 3 years!!! Thank you!!!” — Robin, Culpeper

“I think if it had not been for Rep Spanberger’s office helping us, no telling how long it would have taken, had no idea even where to turn until I saw on Facebook, another citizen with the same issue. I had been waiting since May. I got very upset over the whole issue, but her office calmed me down, again one of the most involved rep’s ever to represent the 7th district.” — Bonnie Shattuck

“My two teenage children filed their federal tax return and for 4 months they did not receive it. We tried everything. Then we contacted Abigail Spanberger’s office and within a month my daughter had her federal tax return and my son after a month and a half received his.” — Carol, Culpeper

“I want to thank Congresswoman Spanberger’s office for working so hard to get a solution for our tax issue. After four long years, your office was able to get results. Thank you so much. It’s good to know we have someone who was willing to work on our behalf.” — Sue Hansohn

“Amazing. I have been unable to get any assistance with the IRS over the last year. Everyone I contacted were unable to answer questions or help with a resolution. I never knew that I could get help from my representative. This was easy and stress free. I was kept up to date with progress as well. Thank you! You all did what I could not. Thank you again!” — JoAnne, Culpeper

“The tax refund had been “in process” for months, even after all requested paperwork had been submitted. After Representative Spanberger’s office got involved, the refund was issued within 3 weeks. One of the main reasons I chose to contact Representative Spanberger’s office was a previous experience with an IRS issue. About 4 years ago, a tax return was also “in process” for months. I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office and found them to be very responsive and thorough. After contacting the office, the issue was resolved in about 4 weeks and the refund was issued. It is comforting to know that when you bump up against bureaucratic hurdles, you have an advocate to turn to!” — Philip, Spotsylvania

“Within 3 weeks of submitting all my documentation concerning my deceased mom’s delayed 2020 income tax refund to Rep. Spanberger’s office, we received the refund due, plus interest, from the IRS. My brother and I can now close out my mom’s estate after waiting more than a year and a half for this refund.” — Steven Hein, Orange

“It was a pleasure working with your office. The caseworker was very responsive and professional. I had been trying for 2 months to reach the IRS to resolve the problem on my own, without success. I was very pleased with the quick response and resolution of my issue with the IRS. Thank you again for helping me during this stressful time after the passing of my husband.” — Deborah Dent, Spotsylvania

“RESOLVED!  Very Quickly and Efficiently. I should have known that working with the IRS on my own to Resolve what was IRS “Error” would be a “waste of my time”, very Stressful and Disappointing. I should have Contacted Rep. Spanberger’s  Office FIRST!  I would have saved myself a Full Year of Time, Headache and Postal Fees!!” — Shelley, Culpeper

“Shawn has been great to work with and has been instrumental in getting our tax return processed. Thank you for all you are doing.” — Barbara Bardenheier 

“I finally received my mother’s 2019 tax refund. The workers in your office, especially Shawn Meredith, were calm, patient, and helpful. They provided updates as they received them and always responded quickly to my questions.” — Allison Herndon

“I had been trying to resolve an my overpayment issue with the IRS for nearly  1 1/2 years. Your office had it resolved and I had my check in 3 weeks. It was so nice to have your office take care of an issue that had been so entirely frustrating to me. I am so appreciative” — Ellen Addison

“In April I filed my income taxes with the IRS and included payment. I was later sent a letter that I had not paid them. I sent a copy of my cancelled check back. A month later I received another letter stating that I had not paid them and was going to have a levy taken against my bank account. I then contacted Mrs. Spanberger’s office and explained the situation talking with Shawn.

“After months of trying to get my tax refund from the IRS, I contacted Congresswoman Spanberger’s office for help. I wish I had contacted them sooner! Shawn was fantastic – he replied promptly and guided me through filling out the necessary forms. I’m happy to report that I received my refund about three weeks later.” – Lisa Fleming

“My husband and I had to contact IRS regarding a tax issue that should be easy to resolve, or so we thought. After many frustrating phone calls and letters to IRS and getting nowhere, we reached to Congresswoman Spanberger’s office for help. We spoke to Shawn Meredith, our knight in shining armor. He worked his way through the IRS labyrinth and got our issue with IRS resolved.  We are very grateful for the services of Congresswoman Spanberger’s staff.” – Ginger Jenkins

“My husband and I received a notice from the IRS that we had not paid our 2020 taxes and were being charged interest and penalties. We knew this was wrong because we paid our taxes via online IRS portal in March 2021.

“Thanks to Shawn and the rest of Rep. Spanberger’s staff for advocating for us and resolving the IRS issue earlier than expected. We don’t owe anything and attribute this to your advocacy. What a relief!” – Teresa Reed

“The pandemic has thrown everything and everyone out of the rhythm. I had filed my taxes in early February and by mid-2021 I still did not receive any portion of my return. At the time, the IRS seemed unreachable, so I was advised to reach out to my local congress representative. I filled out my inquiry on spanberger.house.gov on 6/23/2021. Fortunately, on 6/24/2021, Shawn reached back out to me on behalf of Rep Abigail Spanberger. After I fully expressed my frustration, Shawn guided me to the Taxpayer Advocate Service that he is able to contact the IRS on my behalf. During the past month and a half Shawn was able to communicate with the IRS and I received my tax refund on 8/3/2021. Without his help, I was clueless and I wish I knew that I could have reached out to Abigail’s team sooner so my issue could have been resolved quicker. In all honesty, I didn’t even know my local congresswoman could help me out in this situation and I was going to reach out to a local CPA, but I also didn’t want to waste more money in the drain. Abigail and her team have done an amazing job for me, so I want to share my story and I’m hoping my story could inspire others.” – Di Reynolds

“My husband died in March of 2020. I filed our 2019 taxes in April 2020. My return was flagged because of my husband’s death. After some phone calls and back and forth with the IRS, in August of 2020, I faxed in a copy of Andy’s death certificate (which had already been sent to them a few weeks after my husband’s death) and was told it would take 4-6 weeks to process. The weeks went by and nothing. Phone calls to IRS were difficult because wait times were several hours long and I work full time, so staying on the phone during business hours for several hours at a time was not an easy task. In February 2021, I finally received notice that I would be receiving my refund within two weeks. I was told they would have to mail a check because they could not deposit to my bank account in a different year than my returns were filed. Weeks went by and still nothing. Eventually a friend told me I should try to reach out to my state representative. I had no clue that they could help with this type of situation. I reached out to the offices of Abigail Spanberger, sent all the information they requested and a few weeks later, they notified me that the IRS had sent my payment on 7/29. Finally!! Resolution! And the staff at Abigail Spanberger office was very easy to work with.” – Kippi B. Pigsley

“Rep Spanberger’s office helped me get a long-overdue refund from the IRS.” – Robert Orndorff 

“We want to thank Congresswoman Spanberger and her office for helping us resolve our complaint with the IRS. We had submitted our 2020 federal tax returns on March 12, 2021 and had not heard back regarding our refund for well over the recommended 21 days outlined on the IRS website and despite contacting the IRS directly. We contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office on June 22, 2021 about this issue and asked if there was anything they could do on our behalf. We heard back the next day and they were immediately able to advocate for us through the taxpayer advocacy service (TAS). We heard back from the IRS within weeks and received our return on July 11, 2021 in the full amount. Thank you again for working on our behalf and helping us quickly resolve this urgent issue.” – Michael DiGirolamo

“My CPA files my taxes every year electronically. He submitted my 2020 tax returns on March 20, 2021. Around the 1st of April, according to the IRS website, my tax return had been received and was being processed. [I received my tax refund from the state on April 1, 2021].

“Around the middle of April, the IRS website reported that my return “was still being processed and that a refund date would be provided when available”. The same screen appeared from the middle of April until I contacted Rep. Abigail Spanberger on July 8, 2021. After filling out a Privacy Release Authorization and emailing it back to Spanberger’s office, I still checked the IRS website daily. On July 21, the site showed that my return had been processed and that I should receive my refund within 2 weeks I actually received the refund the next day).

“Although it’s a shame that I had to contact my representative, I’m glad that I did. My husband and I are both retiring and living on a fixed income. Getting a refund check helps tremendously during these trying times when prices have skyrocketed. I am extremely disappointed with the IRS. Not once during the April-July timeframe did I ever receive any kind of explanation for the delay.” – Carol W. Hayes

“We filed our 2019 federal tax return on April 6, 2020, but realized in early June of that same year that we made a simple error in our favor. We filed an amended return on June 13, 2020. Ten months later — as of April, 2021 we had still not received a refund or any communication from the IRS. Because we were already regularly receiving communications from Representative Abigail Spanberger’s office, we read in one of the email newsletters that her team could assist us with an IRS issue. We submitted a request to her office on 4/ 1/2021 and within several weeks received a check from the IRS. We are convinced without this assistance we would still be waiting on our refund. If you want to learn more about what’s happening in Virginia’s 7th District, sign up for the newsletter. It was worth it to us!” – Cynthia and George Lake

“I’ve been waiting since March for my 2020 tax refund. I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office asking for their help. They collected my specifics and forwarded it on to the appropriate agency for assistance. I’ve been notified that my refund should be in my account by July 8. While I can’t know for certain how much their help facilitated my refund, I know for a fact that they were on my case promptly with genuine concern for a successful outcome. Representative Spanberger and her staff clearly care about her constituents. Thank you to her and her staff for their help.”  – Dale Gentz

“Being a Mom of a “medically complicated” daughter running into walls or closed doors, when needing assistance, is almost a daily occurrence. So when 9 months had gone by and our family had yet to receive our Federal Tax Return and I decided to contact Representative Spanberger’s office, I did not honestly expect to get anything other than maybe a “robo” response. But instead within days, I received a personal email followed up by a phone call from her office. I was shocked. But it did not stop there, literally weekly updates on the status of our return from Representative Spanberger’s assistant, Shawn Meredith. Even when there was really nothing to report on, I still either received weekly emails or phone calls. I truly believe that without the help of Representative Spanberger and her office, I would still be waiting on our return. With a daughter that needs expensive medicines every day – the help our family received was truly a life saver!”  – Lori Curtis Guthrie

“I would like to thank Rep. Spanberger’s office for their assistance with resolving an IRS refund problem. Prior to engaging Rep. Spanberger’s office, the IRS had been extremely slow to respond, and incorrect when they did respond. I am especially grateful for the outstanding work of Shawn Meredith who led me through the resolution process.” – Jim VanDerzee

“I want to thank my U.S. Representative, Abigail Spanberger, for assisting me with an issue that I had with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS sent my husband and I a bill but we had already paid our taxes! No one answered the phone, no one responded to numerous letters we sent, and we were unable to reach them via electronic mail either. The online form wasn’t working and we needed some help. We contacted our U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s office and we were connected with a person that was able to find out what the problem was and get our issue resolved!! We never felt as if we were one citizen out of millions because the response from her office was immediate and the process was swift. I am so happy that I voted for the right person. Thank you Shawn Meredith – District Coordinator!! You were our point of contact and we sincerely appreciate you too!! Thank you so much!” – AreLisa Powell

“I reached out to Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s office several months ago after filing my tax return and receiving no answers as to where my refund was (like so many others.) Shawn reached out to me within hours of my initial call. For months, Shawn has stayed in constant contact with me. He answered all my emails quickly after reaching out to my TA for updates, and he provided me with weekly updates. He stayed concerned and advocated for me until he received an answer about my return. When he received the date, he called to tell me and he was genuinely as excited as I was to finally have a resolution. I could not be any happier with the help, communication, and support I received from Rep. Spanberger’s office. Thank you again so much from my whole family! We all know how hard things have been and to have someone fighting for you for something that doesn’t benefit them at all is the best feeling.” – Kristin Paixao

“After contacting Abigail Spanberger’s office about an issue, I can honestly say I have never had a more responsive and helpful experience from any state or federal representative as I had with that office. In August, I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office to see if they could assist in determining the case of the many-months delay in receiving our federal tax refund. I received a return phone call from a staff person that same afternoon. He asked for some additional information, and told us we would hear back within two weeks. Before two weeks were up, he called us back with the pertinent information. Apparently, our return got stuck in the ‘taxpayer protection program,’ set up to avoid identity theft. The staff person gave us detailed information on what we needed to do to provide our identity to release the return. We’re still not clear on why the IRS never informed us of the hold in the TPP, but we were thoroughly impressed with the knowledge, professionalism, and support Representative Spanberger’s office provided … I offer a sincere, public ‘thank you’ to Representative Spanberger and her staff for the high level of support they provide to all of her constituents!” – Alyson Sappington

“Thank you for excellent constituent service! You cannot avoid death or taxes, but I got help from Congresswoman Spanberger’s staff. My mother died on January 3, 2020. I filed her 2019 tax returns in March. Calls and emails to the IRS showed “return being processed.” When I sent an email to Congresswoman Spanberger, I got a prompt return call and patient help with completing forms and sending the information needed to get a real status update. Weeks later, the refund was processed! The Congresswoman’s staff called me and made sure I gave the IRS the necessary information. I appreciate the help, and knowing my Congresswoman responded when I needed attention!” – Dena Rosenkrantz 

“My frustration trying to navigate the IRS system reached a tipping point, so I reached out to Abigail Spanberger’s office. Almost immediately after reaching out, Shawn from her office got in touch with me about my problem with receiving my tax return and stimulus check. He worked with me for about 2 months, finally getting me both by today. I can only imagine how much longer I would have had to wait (or possibly have been forgotten about by the government.) Thank you so much to Abigail and Shawn, you and your team are amazing!” – Katrina Aducci

“I am so grateful to Congresswoman Spanberger and her staff for their quick availability and efficiency in helping resolve my mother’s tax obligation. My mother has been in respite care for five years and has been in hospice for the last six months, and her money is quickly running out. With Congresswoman Spanberger’s advocacy staff, my mother received a “Case Closed” and has been removed from collection attempts by the IRS. The entire process was easy and seamless and I cannot thank them enough for resolving this situation with the Internal Revenue Service.” – Lori Tracoma

“I do not even know where to begin. I am a mother of 3 who has lost her job due to the pandemic. Filed my taxes in Feb. 2020 and had no update or any info on when my refund would be sent out. I reached out to Shawn Meredith, my District Coordinator, I cannot praise this man enough! Shawn was extremely professional, always prompt on responding back to my emails and any questions I had. My case was very challenging, especially with the IRS shut due to COVID-19. My refund was at a standstill. Furthermore, Shawn inquired and found that the reason for this was my 2016 was not filed. I never knew about this but thank God for Shawn. He moved mountains and got my 2019 refund issue for me through the TA. Shawn also made sure he was always available by phone and via email.

“I would like to point out Shawn had this done within about 3 weeks of me reaching out to him. Another bonus for my children and I is I will receive my 2016 refund once the IRS reopens. My case required a lot of time and effort and Shawn put every ounce into my case. Once my refund was issued, my stimulus check also followed. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT SHAWN! My children and I suffered severe hardship and Shawn helped me and now I am able to pay my bills and provide for my kids with the refund. Words cannot even describe how grateful I am to Shawn. He saved me during this pandemic, forever grateful to him. I have never come across such a helpful, polite, professional individual. The world needs more people like him! Thank you Shawn, God bless you always!” – Andleeb Ahmed

“I was frustrated at not receiving ANY information regarding my Federal tax refund more than six months after I had filed my return. I had tried reaching out to the IRS multiple times, but was never able to speak with a person or learn any additional information. I actually came across a Reddit discussion online where someone had mentioned reaching out to their congressional representative. I decided, ‘Why not?’ since nothing else I had tried had led to any real results. I called Abigail Spanberger’s office and left a message with a brief description of my problem. A district coordinator from Ms. Spanberger’s office called me back within 48 hours. I was then able to explain the situation in detail, and Mr. Shawn Meredith immediately began researching the problem. He also had a Tax Advocate reach out to me personally. In just over a week’s time, the problem I had struggled with for 6 months had been resolved. I received my tax refund 3 weeks later. I am most appreciative to everyone who helped!” – Abbi Buchanan 

“My wife and I filed our taxes in April 2019 and received a notice from the IRS in May 2019 that our return was under review. We patiently waited for our case to be closed but there was no progress. In January 2020, I read a newsletter from Representative Spanberger’s office, that claimed they ad helped constituents with federal agencies. In February, I decided to fill out a contact form and within 48 hours, Shawn Meredith reached out to me. Mr. Meredith expressed genuine concern, and explained everything he needed, and what actions he would take. Through his work with taxpayer advocacy it was discovered that the employer submitted an incorrect W2 for my wife. After working on the issue for a few weeks, COVID-19 occurred and I assumed the progress would stall. Mr. Meredith called me to tell me there was progress and a resolution would occur by mid-April. On April 20, 2020, Shawn called to tell me we were receiving our refund and would get $198 in interest. If it was not for Representative Spanberger’s office, and in particular, Shawn Meredith, our 2018 tax return of $3,861.44 would still be at the IRS. Mr. Meredith is a genuine professional who we are fortunate to have working for us! If I have a future issue, I wouldn’t hesitate to call!” – Danny Fisher II

“I had an experience with the IRS and my Social Security. I exhausted all of my avenues for help. Didn’t know which way to turn, so finally a friend said ‘Call your representative.’ I did, even though it was during the holidays. I called and they took this case and got it settled. I said if you have a problem too big for you, call the office of Rep. Spanberger. I say a big shout out to her assistant Shawn, he was a great help. They work for you.” – Jacqueline Perry

“My mother did not receive her federal tax return check. I called and went online with the IRS to get a status. I was unsuccessful getting any answers. I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office. Shawn Meredith from her office contacted me within a day. He immediately sent the forms that needed to be filled out. Within 3 weeks, my mom’s tax check arrived. I am very thankful for the help of Rep. Spanberger’s office.” – Sandra McLeod

“Working with your office prompted a response from the VA where all I have gotten for the last five months was “call back next month” as a response. It was amazing how quickly your office responded to my request and LISTENED to my needs. All the emails were prompt and courteous. It is reassuring that there is someone who listens and cares. I am grateful for the assistance.” — Peter, Orange

“Congresswoman Spanberger’s office was able to contact the Marine Corps office that was unreachable and unresponsive to my request and forward my request. The artifact that was provided will allow me to retire. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! :-)” — Michael

“I unsuccessfully tried to resolve the situation on my own for more than six weeks. After contacting your office, my problem was solved in two days time! I was particularly impressed with the immediacy of your response to my initial email — literally in 15 minutes. After I sent additional information, it was obvious that you quickly contacted the agency (VA) involved in my case. I so appreciated this!”— Margaret, Stafford

“The information that Representative Spanberger’s office assisted me with has allowed me to move forward on accessing VA benefits for my elderly mom. Thank you!” — Pamela, Spotsylvania

“Everybody was very professional in your office. They listen, they understood, and they helped me get the information that I tried to get for many years. Again, the staff went way beyond the line of duty to help me and they understood what I was going through. A lot of stuff I did not understand and they took the time to explain it to me and didn’t make me feel like I wasn’t important. They made me feel very important and I want to thank everybody.” — Catherine Bookert, Stafford

“Reaching out to my representative’s office was the best thing I could have done. They were able to assist getting my account unsuspended due to an error threat the VA caused and letting me receive my benefits in a timely manner. Had Representative Spanberger not gotten involved I believe this would have taken months. Thank you again. I was very satisfied with the help of my representative’s office. MacKenzie did a great job reaching out and helping me with my issues with the VA.” — Eric, Stafford

“If it weren’t for my representative getting involved, I never would have gotten paid anytime soon for my military PCS travel claim. The Navy representative said they hadn’t even seen or touched my case in over a year & they wouldn’t have known to process mine if it weren’t for the congressional letter, despite me making every attempt to contact the right people on my own accord and through my chain of command. I have heard people tell me about their poor experience with getting help from their representatives, but my experience was nothing short of amazing!” — Kathryn, Prince William

“I felt like I had an advocate on my side. The Veterans Administration can be overwhelming when a veteran is feeling alone in dealing with issues, and it was great to have someone take the time to assist. I knew I would have a positive experience, and I was correct in that. The follow up with me really mattered and was very professional, but personal and caring.” — Jay, Fredericksburg

“I got the records I needed to file a claim. I had been waiting for seven months for Vet Records Office to send those records of my service in the Navy with no response. An e-mail to your office requesting help produced a rather quick response form the records office. Thank you so much, I never expected to get the kind of help you provided. Congresswoman Spanberger truly looks out for the interests of her constituents,with no consideration of party affiliation.” — James Grider, Stafford

“My siblings and I had been trying for months to get my father’s service records so that his wife [now widow] could get the benefits he deserved for his years in the Marines. We knew that he had enlisted during WW2 before any of us were born and got out after Korea, when I was 2 or 3. But, we needed to have the document that gave exact dates. We tried the Veterans Administration, the National Archives and various other federal agencies. All of them required us to give the Information we did not have in order to get the Information that we did not have. It was the worst case of government run around I have ever experienced until Rep. Spanberger’s office stepped in to help. After months of going in circles trying to get my father’s Marine Corps service record MacKenzie, in Rep. Spangberger’s office, was able to get the information we needed in exactly one week’s time. My family and I are extremely grateful.” — Bill, Fredericksburg

“Working with your office impacted my case by getting me the much needed answers and details from the Dept of Veterans Affairs on my VA claim. I was unable to get any clear information which is I finally decided to contact Congresswoman Spanberger. Your office also helped me get resolution with the local Army finance office to correct my final government debt and reimburse the erroneous amount collected from my final active duty paycheck.

“This is the first time that I have gotten real results from my congress representative. I am glad that I voted for Congresswoman Spanberger!” – Alicia, Prince William

“I am a retired combat veteran. This year, as gas prices began soaring, I found it financially impossible to attend VA appointments scheduled in Richmond. Although a new facility has began in our district in Spotsylvania, they were not available because of limited slots and high demand. She and her staff went to work and resolved the problem in a rapid manner and I got the needed medical attention. Bravo Zulus to the Hon. Spanberger and her staff!” – Mark, Spotsylvania

“Representative Spanberger’s office turned around in five days, my request for help with Veterans Affairs concerning my military disability and got a response from them in a timely manner. Thanks for support and professionalism by all.” – Lisa Davis, Lt Col, USAF (Ret), Madison

“I was not aware that my Congresswoman’s office would be able to help me address an issue I was having. I had been trying to retrieve my father’s DD214 forms from the government and kept running into issues and errors to which I kept getting kicked back to square one. I was provided a card with info to contact Congresswoman’s Spanberger’s office and immediately things changed for me. In particular, Ms. Mackenzie Heidelmark got back with me expeditiously once I reached out to her. I informed her of what I was trying to acquire and the time sensitivity of the matter for which I needed these forms. She had me fill out some forms and then proceeded to act in my behalf to get the items needed. Without the involvement of this office, I’m not sure how long it would’ve taken me to get to the right place and department to handle my request. Congresswoman Spanberger’s office and staff (in particular Ms. Heidelmark) were there when I needed them. Thank you so much. I was able to get my application submitted on time as I was hoping to.

“We as citizens sometimes don’t know or totally understand what all our Congress representation can or will do on our behalf. I would suggest that if any citizen is struggling with a situation or has a question or concern about something and they really aren’t sure who would or could handle it for them, then reach out to your Congress representation. In my case, she is Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and she and her staff rock!!” — Lawrence Nickerson, Prince William County

“Your office solved my problem in a very timely manner after I had been struggling on my own for over a year, reaching constant dead-ends and feeling utterly hopeless. I’m incredibly thankful for everything you’ve done for me and I’m going to spread the word amongst the military community.” – Tyler, Stafford County

“I think the VA hospital found that excuses was not excepable when contacted by Abigail Spandbergers office. Many thanks MacKenzie.” — Robert Martun

“Your office was able to get me answers from the Veteran Affairs office very quickly, within minutes to be honest. I have never seen a government agency respond this quickly, and I worked for the federal government for 32 years. Your office got me answers and was a great help.” — Patrick Micielli, Culpeper 

“As great a job as individuals of the VA at McGuire in Virginia does to meet service connected disabled veterans needs, Congresswoman Spanberger’s office does an even better jobs representing us when the situation dictates. I am appreciative to the Congresswoman’s (and staff) attention to detail and support – specifically MacKenzie. In this particular case I reached out to request support with McGuire VA dental office. In no time, my case was solved. Had it not been for Congresswoman Spanberger and her staff, no doubt my case would not have been solved. I’m grateful.” – Harry James Jones Jr.

“The Representative let me know I had VA benefits during a townhall. Her office helped me contact the right people, and my VA claim was accepted and approved within a few weeks. Abigail Spanberger is the first Representative I felt was genuine, and is hearing me.” – Jay Luster

“Excellent assistance on VA matters – extremely professional. The staff was always so dedicated to assisting me with my father’s VA benefits – Dad was a proud WWII and Korean conflict veteran and Rep. Spanberger and her staff were incredibly helpful.” – Glenn Hayden

“I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office in hopes of getting some assistance. I was not let down. Her office immediately responded to me and provided the help I requested. In October 2020, I requested an audio appointment at the Hunter McGuire Medical Center. The earliest appointment was March 2021, so after much explanation how my quality of life was being impacted and their answer was “take it or leave it,” I took it. It was when they called and cancelled the long-awaited appointment that I contacted Representative Spanberger’s office. Within a week I had a new, more acceptable appointment date. As a 100% disabled vet, this is what I felt I deserved, and Rep. Spanberger delivered. Our 7th District has the right person in office.” – Calib Garland Jr.

“I really appreciated Representative Spanberger’s staff handling an issue with obtaining a certificate of eligibility from the VA for a loan which was in process. My experience with both the DC and [Henrico] office was both courteous and professional.” – Bill Ware

“After 7 months of no response from the SSA regarding an appeal, Representative Spanberger’s office reached out on my behalf and the issue was resolved within 2 weeks! Kudo’s to her office for sure.” — Frank, Prince William

“By working with your office I received responses back from SSA. Before your office got involved they did not respond. I was going back and forth with SSA for four months with no success. But once they received the Congressional from your office they started working with me to find a solution to the problem. I now have my Part B Medicare back which I am able to continue to take care of my health concerns. Thank you and your staff for helping with this serious issue.” — Tracey, Prince William

“I tried for five months to get my son’s back Social Security payments. Over 20 phone calls and numerous visits to Social Security — and nothing. Rep. Spanberger made one call, sent in my documents, and within 3 days I received all back pay. Amazing!” — Russell, Prince William

“I got a call back!! As well as suggestions on how I could resolve a seemingly insurmountable debt. I just want to thank the office for immediate attention and responses and how you were able to get the Social Security office to respond so fast!!” — Melinda, Madison

“I had been trying for 11 months to get my late husband’s SS back checks and lump sum death benefit. Two days after Abigail Spanberger and her staff contacted Social Security on my behalf, I FINALLY received my benefits.  Abigail made it happen. THANK YOU SO MUCH ABIGAIL. It is so comforting to know my Congresswoman is working hard for me. You and your staff are the best.” — Carolyn Sulima

“I was blessed to have Ms. Natalie Stewart working on my case from start to finish. I needed to have an issue resolved with my Medicare Part A enrollment. Due to COVID, access to in-person help from the SSA was not available, and communication by phone was not helpful. Working via phone calls got me nowhere for several months, with several confusing and confounding dead ends along the way and many hours on hold. I contact Ms. Spanberger’s office out of desperation. Once Ms. Stewart began working on this issue on my behalf, it moved directly to a solution. Without her help, we would not have been able to continue contributing to our Health Savings Account. This would have been a major financial blow to our home. The impact is enormous for us and we are most grateful.

I can say without hesitation that Ms. Spanberger and her staff represented us in the way that we wish all of our elected representatives would do. I am so impressed with the actual results I received: not just form letters, but real action and communication leading to a real solution. Many thanks to Ms. Spanberger and Ms. Stewart for their tenacious commitment to serving the people of their district.” — Gary Pasquarell

“The office was able to get the SSA to move on an issue that has been ignored for years in just few weeks. Kudos are in order. I just wish I had been aware of constituent services earlier.” — Didier Vergamini

“We’ve been extremely grateful for all of the hard work that Shawn Meredith in Rep. Spanberger’s office put into helping to resolve our families problem with miss-routed Social Security payments which we never could have resolved on our own during the pandemic when none of the field offices were open. We’re very thankful and appreciate all of their tireless hard work and follow through.” – The Wilkins-Banazek Families

“On 10/31/20 I applied for SSDI after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. After 3 ½ months of little to no progress by SSA, I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office for assistance. The next day, SSA began processing my application! Six months later, the processing of my application seemed to hit another wall with no progress. So I contacted Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s office again on 7/26/21. Within 3 weeks my application was approved! I can’t thank enough the office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger to assist and expedite my application. Without their assistance, I’m sure I would still be waiting.” – Brian Miller

“I ran into great difficulty with the Social Security Administration processing my name change request. I had tracking showing that they had received my original documents, but every time I called they told me that my name change was in process. This went on for close to two months when I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office. Her Grants Managers Shawn Meredith quickly responded and sent my information in to the Social Security Administration for resolution. A week later the SSA called me in for an in person appointment to get my name changed, and it was quickly taken care of. Without the help of Rep. Spanberger’s team, I would likely still be getting the runaround from SSA phone agents.”  – Gwen W. Virtue

“I was having an issue with Social Security and Medicare. The pandemic has made it difficult to deal with government agencies. We can no longer visit the SSA office and explain the issue to an SSA employee. All documents and explanations are sent through the mail. No way to discuss the issue with the person working on my request. Over a two-month period, my request was denied twice, and I was being charged a significantly higher monthly premium for Medicare. A friend suggested that I ask my congressional representative for help. Ms. Spanberger’s office opened an inquiry on my behalf. Within two weeks, SSA reviewed my submissions, reimbursed me for overcharges, and modified future monthly premiums to the correct amount. If the situation warrants, use the constituent service.” – David Hancock

“I would like, with great appreciation, to thank Abigail Spanberger and [District Coordinator] Shawn Meredith for resolving a very upsetting Social Security problem. It started with my receiving a letter from Social Security stating I was overpaid over $9,000. They planned for me to repay it by not sending me the next 3+ months checks! That was very upsetting to say the least. I called Abigail Spanberger and explained my predicament. She connected me with Shawn Meredith, to look into this matter ASAP. Shawn was able to solve the problem in a matter of days, whereas it would have taken me at least weeks with many phones calls and no successful resolution. The Social Security office admitted they had made a mistake. They actually owed me over $8,000 which they paid promptly. With the help of Shawn Meredith in Abigail Spanberger’s office, my problem got resolved quickly. Thank you to Abigail Spanberger and Shawn Meredith for all their help.” – Gail Schwartz

“Thank you to you and your staff, especially Shawn Meredith, for working expediently and efficiently to resolve our difficulties! We filed for SSI and SSDI right after Shane experienced a disabling stroke in February 2020. We encountered many difficulties in obtaining status of the applications and having them processed. COVID-19 compounded the situation. Shawn repeatedly contacted the agencies involved and kept us updated as well. We finally received a lump sum check from SSI and have confirmation that SSDI will be paid in September 2020. We are so grateful for your assistance and compassion.” – Suzanne Lane, Shane Peoples 

“My son is autistic and was receiving Social Security benefits until his payments were arbitrarily stopped. The Social Security Administration also demanded repayment of 18 months’ payments. Ms. Spanberger launched an investigation which resulted in his benefits retroactively being reinstated.” – Brad Mena

“I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office as a result of issues with my Social Security/Railroad Retirement Benefit. As my husband worked for the railroad, my Social Security is paid by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). In trying to resolve my problem, the Social Security Administration would tell me to call RRB and RRB would tell me to call the Social Security Administration. They both told me it was the other agency’s error. Shawn Meredith from Rep. Spanberger’s office was very diligent and arranged a conference call with both agencies and myself. As a result, my problem was resolved to my satisfaction. Mr. Meredith never fave up. It took months to get this done, and he periodically checked in with me on the progress to find resolution. I am confident that I would still be getting the “run around” if Mr. Meredith had not assisted me. I am thankful for the help and highly recommend contacting Rep. Spanberger’s office if you need an issue resolved!” – Lynne Inge 

“I had trouble having the Social Security Administration (SSA) refund me the Medicare IRMAA overpayment that I made in 2019. I reached out to Congresswoman Spanberger’s office to submit my case to SSA. Her office staff took action promptly and kept track of the status. The staff also kept me updated in a timely manner. SSA finally processed the request and made the refund.” – Cathy Chang

“On January 4,2020 my husband of 63 years passed away as the result of a massive stroke. I eventually contacted Social Security to inquire about receiving a share of my husband’s social security check. I was told to go to the office in Culpeper, and to bring all my identification including the death certificate, I did this, waited two hours only to be told that they could not take care of it but that a check of the computer indicated that I had been scheduled for a phone interview on March 24, at 11:00. I did ask why I was not informed of this when I talked to SS but was told that I would receive a letter with all the information, no letter ever appeared. This took place in early February, On March 24 at 11:00 I was waiting by my phone. I did not receive a call. I immediately called SS only to be told that there was no one to talk to me.

“I really did not know what to do. It was then that I called Rep. Spanberger’s office, spoke to a lady there and was told that someone would get back to me. After 15 years in Florida I figured that was the end for me. Imagine my surprise when not three hours later I received a call from Shawn. He listened to me and then requested that I put this into writing and mail it to him. He also requested that I not try to contact Social Security again. Three weeks later I received a phone call from Social Security. They apologized but did not have a valid reason why I had been ignored, They then interviewed me by phone and advised that I was eligible for a share of my husband’s benefit. Shawn, you are my hero! I was amazed that Rep. Spanberger’s office handled this so efficiently for me. I cannot emphasize enough the care that they showed.” – Jane Nelson

“I contacted Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s office for assistance in resolving an issue with the Social Security Administration (SSA): When I applied for my Social Security benefits several years ago, I was informed that I had to repay over $60,000 that I had collected due to a disability I had many years prior. So, for the past one and a half years I was not receiving any payments from the SSA in order to repay the monies I had collected.

“I subsequently learned that I could appeal the decision. I followed up with an appeal via Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s office. There I met her District Manager Mr. Shawn Meredith. Mr. Meredith stuck with me as I filed my appeal and saw to it that I could repay a small portion every month and subsequently will receive nearly all of my allotment every month. He was always very professional and helpful and was able to reach SSA staff when I could not. I am very grateful he intervened in the process for me.

“Thanks again for all of the excellent assistance and caring for my survival in my later years of life.” – John Lopes

“I contacted Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s office for assistance in resolving an issue with the Social Security Administration (SSA): When I retired on disability from the Cadmus Group in 2018, SSA incorrectly deducted too much for Medicare from my Social Security benefits and I had to file several requests for reconsideration appeals to SSA to correct/increase/reimburse my 2018 Social Security benefits and SSA was not prompt or helpful in its response. The Congresswoman’s office, and specifically her District Manager Shawn Meredith, were very helpful in giving me advice on what to do in dealing with SSA, contacting SSA for information, and following up with me to track the status of my case with SSA.

“After 8 months of trying to resolve the issues involved, mostly on my own, Mr. Meredith contacted SSA himself, as my request, to determine the final status of my case for me when I could not get through to SSA staff on the phone and then relayed their decision to me. He was always very professional and helpful and was able to reach SSA staff when I could not. I was very grateful he intervened in the process for me.” – Gloria Brienza

“Since I will turn 65 in December, I went to Social Security’s website and signed up for Medicare. When I received my card I noticed I had signed for Part A and Part B by mistake. I sent a letter to Medicare to refuse Part B on October 30. In the middle of November, I received a bill for $406.50 for the Part B insurance. As it was due by November 25, and I had not heard back from Medicare, I called my Congresswoman’s office on November 20 and asked for help. Shawn Meredith got in touch with Medicare/Social Security, and on November 22 he forwarded their response, saying they had processed my request. I am so grateful for his help!” – Mark Fagerburg

“I wanted to sign up for Medicare Part B when my wife lost her job recently. I already had Part A and should have qualified for a special enrollment period. Social Security was denying me because we couldn’t get the proof that I was covered by my wife’s group insurance from employers that have been out of business for over 10 years, and said I would have to pay an approx. 120% penalty on my monthly premiums when I signed up during general enrollment. After contacting Rep. Spanberger’s office, Shawn quickly got to work on our case, and I am happy to say that I was recently approved, even retroactively for when I had originally applied. Thank you, Shawn, Rep. Spanberger, and the entire office. You saved us several thousand dollars in medical bills plus kept my premiums from being more than double. We are glad to know that our Representative’s office is working for the people.” – J.S.

“On Feb. 10, 2020, I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s Henrico Office to request assistance with an issue involving SSA. On Mar. 11, 2020, I received a call from Shawn Meredith, District Coordinator, letting me know their office had received SSA’s decision in a letter dated Mar 10.  My benefits will be restored retroactively. Per request, steps are also being taken to avoid repeat actions. Kudos to Shawn Meredith and Angele Russell who worked tirelessly to ensure SSA was making my case a priority. Their dedication was instrumental in bringing my case to a timely conclusion. Shawn Meredith and Angele Russell are consumate professionals who truly care about their constituents.” – Marguerite Sciandra

“My case was in limbo and it was sped up a lot faster! I doubt this would’ve happened without your help! I really appreciate it! Very quick and reliable! Absolutely amazing service, keep being great!” — Brandon, Orange

“I want to thank you and Rep. Abigail Spanberger and for listening to the concerns of my small business, via Meta. I would also like for you all to know that the work you all do for your constituents matters. Because of the hard work that you did in contacting the SBA on my behalf, my business not only survived the pandemic but is thriving. We were able to purchase a second tractor and look forward to hiring drivers for what will soon be a fleet. The small business voice was heard and I appreciate it so graciously.” — Michelle King-Boisseau

“Success! Thanks to your office working with us and the SBA, we have received the loan! The loan had been held up for roughly six months, we were unable to get answers from the SBA other than we are busy, wait for our call. We contacted your office as a last resort, hopeful you might be able to help. Your inquiry seemed to have reminded the SBA that we were short on a few documents. Once that was cleared up they were able to make a quick assessment, we qualified easily, and the loan moved on through. All this happened in a matter of a few days after talking with your office and a few weeks we closed. Thank you!

Due to your work, we are secure during the winter months. We are able to keep all our employees working. In one case we kept an employee from homelessness and the other are not worried about a layoff. Government works best with a local representative that cares deeply about her constituents. Humans helping humans, in simple sincerity, for the common good. Keep up the good work.” – David Ogburn

“Owning and operation a small business over this past year has been extraordinarily challenging due to the shutdown of the state and country’s economy. It was critical that my company, BIZPORT, receive a PPP loan to offset the adverse impact of the shutdowns. During the application process for my 2nd draw of PPP, my loan got put on hold by the SBA due to an issue inside of the SBA. Myself, and my bank, Atlantic Union Bank, tried for weeks to get this issue resolved. It was a fruitless effort and all we received was generic responses with no direction or information. After nearly a month of not getting the SBA to respond to us, I was in dire straits. At that point I contacted Congresswoman Spanberger’s office via email and got an immediate response from Angele Russell, Ms. Spanberger’s associate who handles Strategic Partnerships and Outreach. Ms. Spanberger’s office contacted the SBA on behalf and the loan was taken off hold and approved within 48 hours. The speed and action Ms. Spanberger took to resolve my loan issue really gave me a sense that she cares about small businesses and her constituents. I can’t thank her and her office enough for helping me and my company. Her and her team are great and caring people. We’re lucky to have them serving the 7th District.” – Glenn Childress

“We are a small corporation [that owns] Subway franchises, with two locations with two different corporation and tax IDs. We were trying to get EIDL for COVID since April 2020 but SBA, after [much] correspondence, was not responding to our dire need for a loan, and giving us different answers and not resolution. Finally, I requested help from Abigail’s office. The office staff was courteous and after contacting SBA they were able to fund [our] corporation in three weeks – while SBA was prolonging it for more than six months. That financial help saved [our] businesses and their employees.” – Jay Patel

“Representative Spanberger’s Office advocated on my behalf and my issue was resolved in less than two weeks. Their intervention not only expedited the process but also brought about a resolution that will profoundly impact my life positively and I am grateful.” – Stella

“We believe getting Rep. Spanberger’s office involved in our issue with OPM made all the difference. We had been getting the run around from OPM for almost two years. They tried to ignore Rep. Spanberger’s inquiries as well but our case worker’s persistence brought resolution to our case and we are forever grateful.” – Michael & Nancy Shaw, Prince William

“I honestly do not think I would have been able to resolve the problem if MacKenzie from Rep. Spanberger’s office had not provided the assistance that she did. Attempts by myself to receive help and answers through DFAS’s estimated earnings customer service phone number regarding the erroneous estimates were met with rudeness and lack of concern by DFAS. Trying to obtain the correct estimated earnings became a source of serious stress in my life due to the long waiting times from DFAS and the multiple incorrect estimates I ended up receiving back, even after following DFAS’s instructions to the letter. Inaccurate estimated earnings affect the ability of my many years of military service to count towards federal retirement benefits as a new federal employee. If it were not for MacKenzie, I would not have been able to get the accurate and required information from DFAS, and would have had all those years of honorable military service not counted at all towards federal retirement. It is a travesty that a federal agency like DFAS treats veterans and fellow federal employess with such disrespect that it takes a congressional inquiry to solve it. I cannot even begin to express how much I appreciate Rep. Spanberger and her staff’s care about constituents and the work they do to hold federal agencies accountable. It was easy to find where to submit an inquiry on the website and MacKenzie responded quickly with instructions to get the process going. It was a pleasure to work with her.” – Winnie, Prince William

 

“They were able to reach out and get our case moving a little faster. We will have a ramp for my father, who is a Vietnam Vet, so he can get in and out of our safely. The staff was wonderful and followed up in a timely manner. I appreciate everything they did to help us. The follow-ups they sent were nice as we could see progress being made.”— Elizabeth, Culpeper

“Working with Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger’s office had a positive impact on my case. My mom filed I-130 for my sister and for five years NVC never gave us any information about the status of the case. I contacted the office and to my surprise, within 3 days I got an email from NVC that my case is going to be expedited.
I encourage others to contact the office when they have any pressing issues.” — Samuel, Stafford

“As a Federal retiree, I had to contact my Congressional Representative, Abigail Spanberger’s office to get OPM to process a health insurance change requested during open season. Within a week, Representative Spanberger’s office was able to accomplish what I have been attempting repeatedly since January. I can’t thank you enough. It has been a pleasure working with you.” — Teresa, Stafford

“In addition to expediting my request for my veterans C-File records, MacKenzie provided me with the knowledge, advise, and encouragement to complete and submit the Freedom of Information Act Request (FOIA). Today, I received my requested records. I could not have completed this request without you all’s assistance. Thanks to the outstanding constituent service of MacKenzie Heidelmark, as District Coordinator, and the leadership of Representative Spanberger, I have qualified for additional veterans’ benefits to meet my current service connected, medical needs. The office of Representative Spanberger continues to provide the most outstanding constituent service, and outstanding service among the highest performing service providers among all organization types, including public and private sectors. All staff communicate professionally, with empathy, and expediently in voice and electronic communications. Everybody works quickly and accurately, while implementing the most effective plan needed to expeditiously complete each case and project in a timely fashion, thereby demonstrating outstanding leadership. Awesome to work with, thanks again! FIVE STARS.” — Michael, Spotsylvania

“I am very grateful and appreciative of the care and assistance I received from Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s office and the resolution of my issue with OPM. My ex-spouse and I had a court order and supporting paperwork telling OPM to provide half of my government pension directly to my ex-spouse. OPM did not take any action for over a year. After a year of several frustrating emails and phone calls to OPM to solve this matter, I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office and shortly received a reply from Shawn Meredith in Rep. Spanberger’s office. Shawn assisted us in a professional and timely manner and his actions proved to be very effective in getting OPM to follow the court order to divide my pension. Without the assistance of Rep. Spanberger’s office and the actions of Shawn Meredith, this action would not be resolved today. Both my ex-spouse and I are extremely thankful for the actions provided by Rep. Spanberger’s office and especially for Shawn Meredith. This truly shows that Rep. Spanberger and her staff really care for her constituents.” — William, Prince William

“I filed my application with the USCIS to petition for my Husband to obtain a visa to be able to come to the United States to be with me. After almost a year, of course like anyone else, I became frustrated and reached out to Congresswoman Spanberger’s office for assistance with my case. After receiving an email from Monica, I was hopeful because I received an email from Monica with a response from USCIS in a timely manner. Within a few weeks from my last response from Monica, the next couple of weeks I received my approval for my case to move forward for visa processing!!!

The kindness and understanding I received from Congresswoman Spanberger’s office through Monica was impressive and professional. I can appreciate all the efforts that was made on my behalf to move my case forward after waiting and hearing nothing from USCIS for almost a full year. It is a good feeling, knowing that the people we elect in office will to help us when we reach out to them directly! Thank you.” — Ione, Spotsylvania

“I believe that your office involvement get my case moving along faster than before. I was able to get answers on questions that I was not able to get via emails or phone calls. Thank you for getting my case to move quickly. I appreciate that they did not give up. I appreciate that they followed up and followed through on all my requests. It was quick, and Marc was very courteous and professional. Thank you. He cares about helping people.” — Kebba, Prince William

“I was so happy with the speed Rep. Spanberger’s staff worked and got a solution for me.” — Luis, Prince William

“I have no doubt that the efforts by your office on my behalf is what moved the scale in getting action and ultimately a positive response from USCIS for my adoption process .
I was impressed with how responsive your office was. I got an immediate response and consistent follow up. The staff( Monica) was extremely compassionate and empathetic. Every single time, I have called the office, I was pleasantly surprised to speak with a live person that addressed my concerns, while also sharing realistic expectations. Even though, it was made clear that I may not get the result or outcome I was seeking, I felt grateful because of the empathy and compassion during my interaction with your office. They CARED and that was touching. In a world filled with computer generated responses and voicemails, it was refreshing to consistently talk to a live person during periods of stress and anxiety. Thank you for the great work that you do for your constituents. Leadership is action, not position and you have demonstrated great transformational leadership. THANK YOU to the entire team.” — Emma, Prince William

“I will be thankful forever for the help the Congresswoman provided. I didn’t know that such help was possible. I would like to tell everyone to try to reach out to your Representative’s office to see if they can assist.” — Enas, Prince William

“The office involvement in my case was superb , the office followed up by phone and email and the representative was very courteous and wanted to help. The case was pending and under administrative process for many years and by involving this office the case has been resolved in less than a month. I highly recommend anyone in my constituency if they have issues, cases pending please reach out to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and her office.” — Muhammad Saleem, Prince William

“I experienced no response of value until my representative intervened. I am very pleased with the assistance provided by Representative Spanberger’s staff. They are thorough & stayed on top of my concerns to conclusion.” — Gloria, Orange

“I had an issue with my annual leave payout amount when I retired from the federal government. I contacted Abigail Spanberger’s office with the details. They contacted the correct government agency and intervened on my behalf. My issue was quickly and successfully resolved. I received accurate and timely updates regarding my case status.” — Fran, Stafford

“This is the third case related to the OPM which your staff has helped me with in the last six months.  All have been resolved to my satisfaction and in a timely manner.  Thank you and your staff.” — Robert, Spotsylvania

“My representative, Abigail Spanberger, helped me and my neighbors resolve a problem with the U.S. Postal Service. Despite being reported many times, and despite being told it had been fixed, the broken mail receptacle was not, preventing our whole neighborhood from retrieving mail and packages. Representative Spanberger’s caseworker answered my request very quickly, and got in touch with the appropriate USPS personnel. The mail receptacle is now fixed. I can say with 100% certainty that had our representative not intervened, we would still be struggling to retrieve mail from a broken piece of postal equipment and receiving empty promises that it would be addressed. Many thanks to our excellent Representative and her hard working staff.” — Lynn, Prince William

“Working with the Office of the Seventh District expedited my case allowing me to return to work sooner. The team was very respectful and quick to respond.” — Sean, Stafford

“Without your assistance, this positive result and timely wrap-up would not have happened. Thank you for everything you and your staff do.” — Linda, Spotsylvania

“My son and his family were set to fly to the U.S. for Christmas. My son did not realize that his daughter’s passport had expired. Representative Spanberger’s office contacted the Embassy in the country where my son lives and got them to fast track a new passport. They only had to wait three hours once they got to the passport office for the new passport. While at the passport office, my son talked with a family who learned while trying to board a plane for the U.S. that they had passport issues. They were going to have to wait 6 weeks to get the new passport. Without the help of Representative Spanberger’s office, my son and his family would have missed Christmas in Virginia. While some people say that things in Washington don’t work, they obviously have not contacted Representative Spanberger’s office. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate the office a 12.” — Adair, Orange

“I could not get a response from the Post Office nor could I ever get someone to talk to about my situation. I finally called your office knowing you would help and you did, very satisfied. Outstanding support.” — Alfred, Prince William

“I was astounded at the speed with which my request was taken up by your office and immediately acted upon. I do not know what I would have done without the intervention from your office. I am most grateful for the positive impact you had on my case. Overall, my interaction with your office has deepened my appreciation for the work you do.” — Kwasi, Prince William

“I was expecting a canned email response, almost an auto-generated email. I was shocked when I received a real email back in regards to my DOJ issue. Very timely and made me feel like a real person and not a number or a nuisance. I received a follow up email, letting me know that things had been finalized through the DOJ and that my cases would be moving on. Honestly, this was a last ditch effort for some help in the process I was in. Very happy to know we have have someone representing us, all of us, in Congress.” — Travis, Spotsylvania

“Our case has been stuck at NVC since May 2022 because of their system error. We sent countless emails to the inquiry system and all to no avail because they could not understand the issue and could not rectify it. Our immigration lawyer reached at to them an still there was no change. She suggested we reached out to our Congressional  Representative which we did in June 2023. Our case worker Natalie Stewart took time to understand the case and then reached out to NVC. It was a lot of back and forth conversation, but they relentlessly and patiently dealt with the matter till the issue was resolved in Aug 2023. My sister and family went for there US Embassy Consular interview in Freetown Sierra Leone in Nov 2023 and were granted their immigration visas and they will all join me for Christmas. Our caseworker worked tirelessly in ensuring the issue was resolved. There was always a constant communication between us and always reassured us that all will be resolved.” — Sadiatu, Prince William

“Often it feels as if the government doesn’t work for the people, and so when it does it’s important to recognize and be appreciative of that moment. Sitting alone in my small hotel room on Friday the 13th in Jerusalem I received a call from Natalie in Representative Spanberger’s office. I had only sent the query a few hours prior.

It had been an exhausting week. I was having breakfast at a convent in Bethlehem on October 7 when the sounds of explosions rocked the building. All morning long there were off and on air raid sirens and more explosions, many distant and a few very close. War had just been declared and I was in the middle of it.

I made my way the following day from the West Bank back into Jerusalem and began the arduous task of trying to reschedule a flight, cancel a flight, organize a possible land crossing into Jordan, always wondering if another air raid siren was about to go off. Plans were made, canceled, made, canceled every day.

When the State Department set up a crisis intake form, I filled it out on day one, as did 20,000 other Americans. 20,000. Day One. I contacted the State Department’s Hotline set up for the Emergency in Israel and when I called, the very pleasant woman on the other end had no information about travel, about land crossings, about Jordan, no information. I was simply told ‘Stay Safe.’

It was in a moment of general frustration I dropped an email to my 7th District Rep Abigail Spanberger. To have that personal phone call, half way around the world, from Natalie was that moment, a moment when Washington became human. Someone cared. Someone was going to try to get me some answers.

Twenty-two hours later I received an email from the U.S. Embassy instructing me to come to the Tel Aviv airport. I went to the airport without a ticket or without knowing where I might be going. A few hours later, I was on a no-name charter flight, along with nearly 200 other Americans, on a midnight flight out of Tel Aviv headed to Athens, Greece.

Thank you Natalie. Thank you Representative Spanberger. I would also like to acknowledge the men and women of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem who were at the airport in Tel Aviv doing an amazing job in a complex and chaotic situation.

My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Israel and to the people of Palestine, the innocent every day human beings holding on to hope that one day peace shall come.” – Brad, Culpeper

“Your office helped elevate the critical nature of my case with the Government agency. Prior to your office’s involvement, the Human Resource department at my Agency frankly did not care about the problem and was not willing to devote resources toward fixing the problem. I was shocked to receive timely responses from a real person. I assumed I would get computer generated responses and a form letter sent to the Government agencies involved. Shawn Meredith’s involvement and efforts were well above my expectations and resulted in success.” – Kevin, Culpeper

“Abigail Spanberger’s office was able to resolve an issue we had in securing a passport for my daughter after months of no response from the Department of State. They were very professional and courteous. I appreciate Representative Spanberger and her office.” – Natosha, Prince William

“I was able to get my passport situation resolved before I was supposed to leave the country. I could have not done this without the assistance of this office. I greatly appreciate it.” – Matthew, Prince William

“My passport was issued to me within a week of your office stepping in. I can now go to a conference I am registered to present research at. This was honestly a big help. I will let everyone know.” – Kylie, Spotsylvania

“I believe that your office contacting OPM on my behalf was a game changer. We heard nothing for months from them and no return phone calls. After I contacted you for help, I received a phone call and my issue was resolved. So thank you so much! It was a pleasant experience working with your office.” – Bruce, Stafford

“In January of this year I requested my military service records to support a service connected disability claim from the National Personnel Records Center. I received no acknowledgement of my request; nor did I receive any response to status requests made in April and June. Representative Spanberger’s office responded immediately and within two weeks of taking my case, my records were delivered. The courteous treatment and prompt response are much appreciated.” — Stephen Harrison

“Congresswoman Spanberger’s office did what I could not do. They were able to reach out to federal agencies that I had been trying to get in touch with for over 5 months to no avail. When we found out that it was not a Federal issue but a State issue, they went above and beyond to reach out to the appropriate agency/department. After 8 months of waiting for an approval, I received it after the Congresswoman’s office reached out.” — Jean, Stafford

“I had been trying for over three months to get the paperwork for filing for my husbands designated death benefits with no results. Within days, your office got results. THANK YOU! I will spread the word.” — Virginia, Orange

“My trip abroad was planned and tickets were booked but my passport was to be expired before my return date and I was not able to get an urgent appointment for renewal of my passport. Without the help of your office I would have to miss my planned travel. Thanks so much to all your staff who worked hard for me. I would like to appreciate the kind, keen effort of Ms. Natalie Stewart to help me in this case. I would congratulate Honorable Lady Abigail Spanberger (U.S. Rep) for having such an efficient staff member. She has updated me at every step.” — Muhammad Iqbal

“Abigail & Team, I sincerely thank you for your assistance during such a stressful time. A time when I had no hope that I would be able to attend my son’s wedding after receiving the news regarding the issue with my passport. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I am beyond grateful for you, for making this happen for me, and I will be sure to share with others that may be going through similar situations as mine. Without you, none of this would have been possible.  I received the passport today just as you told me I would. Again, thanks!” — Pearlie, Prince William

“Rep. Spanberger worked tirelessly on my behalf assisting me with my retirement issue with OPM. This is my second time working with Rep. Spanberger’s office and both times have yielded immediate results.” — Lolita Bates-Myers

“I firmly believe that without your office’s assistance that we would still be waiting on a response from the passport agency. I don’t know how to adequately describe what a positive and pleasure it was to work with MacKenzie. From the first interaction I had with her, she was thorough and clear of the steps needed to begin assisting us. Every time I reached out, she was responsive, professional, and remained in email communication.  This office and MacKenzie were wonderful, and I am grateful for all that they did on behalf of our family.” — Maria Doherty. Caroline

“I’m getting  some feedback from OPM I appreciate your efforts in getting this resolved. Thank you for your prompt response.” — Kenneth Brooks

“Natalie Stewart was extremely helpful in overcoming my challenges with the ATF. THANKS SO MUCH for diving deep into the details of my issue and advocating on my behalf to reach a positive resolution. Great experience all around!” — Brian Smith, Prince William

“After nearly four years and a mountain of frustration, I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office for advice/help. Shawn Meredith ably convinced OPM to (finally) resolve the issue and provide specifics with regard to dollar amounts and date(s) as to when this resolution would take effect. I am truly grateful to Rep. Spanberger and her staff (in particular, Shawn Meredith) for the efforts expended on my behalf. Working with Rep. Spanberger’s office was a simple, straightforward process; it was a real pleasure and, of course, I am delighted with the successful result. I appreciate so much her/their efforts on my behalf.” — Catherine, Stafford

“We needed assistance in moving forward a passport expedite request that was held up in processing with the US Passport Administration office. The process even with expedited services is a serious challenge and without the assistance from representative Spanberger we would not have been able to travel with my daughter. I recommend that anyone in her district experiencing challenges with passport services to reach out for assistance, it was extremely helpful. Working with representative Spanberger’s office has been a true pleasure. The office was attentive to our need and very responsive throughout the entire situation. We are grateful for her representation in office.” — Edward, Fredericksburg

“I am a retired federal employee and had been working with OPM over an issue regarding my retirement pay… After a year and a half only receiving platitudes with no action, I reached out to Abigail Spanberger’s office to see if there was anything they could do to help the situation… They indicated they could not compel an agency to act, but they could make an inquiry on my behalf regarding my case. I provided the necessary information for them to do so and within 2 weeks I received a phone call from OPM by a gentleman that seemed willing and had the authority to solve my issue quickly… I believe this intervention allowed me to get to the person necessary to resolve my issue…

I’m told many people are not aware that your Representative can help in situations like this… I completed an online form and Shawn Meredith from Abigail Spanberger’s office reached out to me, was my initial contact and followed up once an inquiry was made… it was an easy process and would recommend the use of this resource when dealing with governmental agencies… may times roadblocks are placed that do not allow you to communicate with those necessary to handle your issues… Abigail Spanberger’s office can help with that…” — Garry, Stafford

“I had been calling the passport office for weeks on hand, without receiving any help, or some sort of resolve. But Shawn was beyond helpful… And stayed on top of my case. Within just a few days, I not only received great news, but I also have my passport in hand. I am so grateful, and sincerely, thankful for the support of Shawn & Congresswoman Spanberger!” — Amara Graham, Stafford

“Working with your office impacted my case tremendously by allowing me to receive a faster answer in regarding my casework as well as faster processing and organization. The experience was simple and quick. I truly appreciate the assistance.” — LaMonne Hayes, Prince William

“I do not have words how helpful they were. I found out that they can help through a neighbor. I immediately contacted them I wish I had known before it would have saved me 3000 USD but so worth it. You guys are amazing. I am so so happy and satisfied. They were kind hard working and empathetic.” — Faiza, Prince William

“I am a recent federal employee retiree, and I retired on 31 December 2022. I had received no interim retirement pay from OPM and when I contacted OPM on 2 May 2023, they had no record of my retirement. That is when I contacted the Abigail Spanberger Woodbridge office, and they immediately worked my case by contacting the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) that handled my retirement package. They had sent my info to the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) back in January, but DFAS had not sent the package to OPM. In 10 days, 12 May, I received my first retirement interim payment that included back pay and now my retirement package is on track at OPM due largely to the Spanberger Team! 🙂 I am extremely grateful because it gets tough paying bills when you have no retirement income! 🙂 I must say that the Spanberger Team was lightning quick in helping with me with this issue! :-)” — Harry, Fredericksburg

“Thank you for such prompt attention to my husband’s insurance issues. It has been such a steep hill until we asked you to step in and help us. Immediately, it was resolved! Thank you for your kindness and efficiency. I will vote for you because you actually have a proactive staff which reflects your leadership.

“Shawn was outstanding. He really represents you well! Thanks again. It’s nice to know you can work on our behalf to resolve Medicare issues.” — Catherine Alexander, Fredericksburg

“I was able to get a definitive answer from the Army Human Resources Command regarding my retirement from the US Army Reserve. I’d gotten the run around from the unit that I retired from and HRC for the past 10+ years but I wrote to Congresswoman Spanberger for assistance and had a response in ~one week. I can finally submit my retirement packet and receive all the benefits that I have earned through my service to this great nation!

“The process was super easy! I wrote my congressional inquiry and opted to mail it in to the local office near me. I was immediately contacted via email to provide some additional details, which I did ASAP. The inquiry was sent out on my behalf the next day and I received a response in ~ one week! I am so pleased that this worked out so quickly. Originally, I assumed that it would go back and forth and few time while months sped by but I truly recommend this route to any veteran that needs answers from a government agency. It WORKS!!!” — Jaki Diaz, Prince William

“Your office was able to resolve an issue/concern with a governmental agency I’d tried to resolve for ten months. I wrote letters, made phone calls and faxed material to no avail. You achieved in least than two months which I was unable to achieve in ten months. You clearly have inroads that are not available to John/Jane Q Public. I am pleased and relieved by the outcome. I declare that Congresswoman Spanberger and her team are truly “Representatives” for the people. In other words their walk matches their talk. Once again I thank all of you for the work and service that you provide.” — William Ferguson

“Mackenzie was awesome with her effort to help me get some military records that I have tried to get for several years!” — Charles Guthrie

“I was having a very difficult time getting a response from OPM regarding the status of my retirement application for the federal government. In addition, eight months had passed when out of desperation, I finally contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office for assistance. Shawn Meredith was instrumental in contacting OPM, getting their attention, and getting my application completely processed. It is even difficult trying to get a live person on the phone when you call OPM and near impossible getting them to complete the application process on a timely basis, so it was a huge feat that Rep. Spanberger’s team, and especially Shawn, were able to assist me with this request. Your intervention is greatly appreciated!

Rep. Spanberger’s office is prompt, they contacted me almost immediately after I reached out to them regarding my situation. They remained in contact with me on the status of my retirement application, and were outstanding. I hate to think how long this would have persisted had they not intervened on my behalf.” — Kenneth, Spotsylvania

“They were able to do the impossible. I had been trying for months to get a passport appointment in DC and they got it done. I am super grateful. I cannot speak more highly of the effort and assistance your office provided. I am beyond grateful for the assistance.” — Krystle, Spotsylvania

“We were having trouble updating our address in the SAM system which was delaying a grant from NFWF. Your inquiry into the issue helped to resolve the problem and NFWF is sending us the grant contract for $50,000!” — Mary, Orange

“The review would have never happened unless this office contacted USCIS and allowed them to look over the case. The coordinator was extremely helpful and understood how to fix our problem for a positive solution.” — John Fennell

“During the Covid pandemic, lots of people let their passports expire unintentionally. Then the travel season is upon us now, many people realized their passports are expired or expiring soon, and in many cases, not enough time ~8 weeks to wait for postal renewal. Getting an appointment from the US passport agency is close to impossible. I am able to renew my passport before my trip with help from your office. Much appreciated. Thank you, you are the best.” — Tugba Yilmaz

“Government agencies and their employees can be somewhat arbitrary / condescending! The people at Medicare are a typical example of the expression “Your tax dollars at work.” They were stuck in a “POLICY” that made absolutely no sense and were not applying common sense to the situation. They denied a request from one of Kroger’s pharmacists to replace an unsafe walking cane and just quoted me their policy when I followed up with Medicare. It looked like something from a sitcom script. There was no way I was going to accept their ridiculous answer so I contacted Congresswoman Spanberger’s office for assistance. They were great to work with and after they contacted Medicare, common sense prevailed. Medicare agreed to what I had proposed to them weeks ago. I am convinced that Congresswoman Spanberger’s office made the difference. I greatly appreciate their assistance in this matter!

Natalie, Maya and Taylor are very nice and professional people. They are always friendly and polite and it is truly a pleasure to work with them!” — Oscar Schneider

“We have been wading through the process of immigrating my wife to the US for close to two years. After her interview at the US consulate in January, it seemed like her application was ‘stuck’ in processing for 6 weeks. After the inquiry, we got notification that her application was approved and we are on the final step! Immediate response and empathy towards my situation. Marc has been extremely helpful in starting a inquiry to the US consulate.” — David Henning

“Natalie responded to a voice mail message that I left at their office number. Our phone call conversation resulted in the completion of a release form and I attached the State Department letter. In a business day, the issue was remedied. I could be more pleased with the level of concern and action. I am grateful for the professionalism and work ethic.” — William O’Kelly

“Natalie was responsive, efficient and – importantly – effective.” — Robert Daughtrey

“My experience working with this office, was easy and pleasant from start to finish. I always joked about being a ‘civil servant’ and not being appreciated for the work I did for my students and their families, so when my issue was handled by my caseworker in Rep. Spanberger’s office-and I did not have to worry or stress about it- I was relieved. I have hardly ever felt relief in my career! It was nice being taken care of after being a caregiver to many for so long. I truly am grateful and appreciative for everything done by your office on my behalf. Thank you.” — Bridget Graham

“You got done in one day, What took me eight months to get to and got no satisfaction from OPM. I was totally surprised how quick of a response I got from OPM After your office contacted them about my situation. This office was outstanding and what they did for me the response was in a timely manner and to my satisfaction.
THANKS SO MUCH” —  Arthur Bufalari 

“At your last telephone townhall meeting I informed Representative Spanberger of the difficulty we were having with the postal service in zip code 23113. Some days we were not even getting service and we were not getting the mail that was showing in informed delivery. Within two days after this call, we started getting our back mail; even getting mail that was post marked 4 weeks earlier (December 6). As of today, if there is mail on informed delivery we are receiving it when the carrier arrives. Thank you so very much for resolving this problem. I am sure I was not the only person in zip code 23113 who had this problem. You are truly a representative who listens to the people and tries to solve their problems. We need more people like you in congress!” – Betty Bolger

“Will was very responsive and proved himself invaluable. I was dealing with an urgent passport matter, that literally not one person from the USPS all the way to the State Department was willing to help with. I would have never enlisted the help of a Representative’s office, but realized after months of hitting a brick wall, I could not resolve the problem without additional resources. After explaining my situation to Will, I had a resolution in a matter of days.” – Mary Johnson

“It appeared to be coincidental, given the timing of the resolution of my case occurring simultaneously with my outreach to your office, but most importantly, the promptness and professionalism of your office’s response to my concern increased my perception of government working for us GREATLY.” – Bill Stout

“A few weeks later I received a call from Shawn stating that the issue had been resolved. Thanks to Shawn and Ms. Spanberger’s office for being so helpful.” – Edward “Scott” Fraley

“I was unable to get my personal income tax refund or any information about the delay. Abigail Spanberger’s office communicated with me, promptly contacted the appropriate office, and got my refund. I then asked for help with a pension from the postal service based on my ex-husband’s retirement. I corresponded with OPM for almost a year with no result. When I contacted Rep. Spanberger’s office, Shawn Meredith responded immediately, and graciously kept in touch, and succeeded in getting my pension in a couple of weeks. After nearly a year of frustration, I was deeply grateful, and Shawn’s excellent help and kind messages were more than I expected. Thank you!” – Sara L. Mackey

“My husband and I accidentally let our passports expire. We had a trip planned and booked. We paid a private service to help expedite them but, it was the assistance of your employee Kristi Black who truly helped us. She was so proactive and professional, making no promises, but assuring us she would do her best to help us get our passports. She coached us through the steps. It literally came down to the day of our departure and we were still hopeful. Thanks to Kristi Black our trip was possible.” – Lisa Taylor

“I was very grateful for the care and attention I received from Abigail Spanberger’s office. When I registered a problem online on her website concerning the Department of Defense regarding an annuity, I received a call back within 45 minutes. With the help of Representative Spanberger’s office, I had a favorable resolution to my problem. I will always be thankful for the help I received.” – Betsy Lyon

“Your office helped me get OPM to correct my pension payment after all my attempts to work directly with OPM failed.  Believe it or not OPM was paying me too much every month and I couldn’t get through to them to get them to reduce the payment to the correct amount. I knew that eventually they would catch the error and then want me to pay the excess amounts back. After I explained the situation to your staff they got OPM to address my case and the necessary correction was made promptly.” – Seth Heald

“It can be difficult to reach out for help from an elected official and receive a response, much less a resolution to a problem. But that wasn’t the case recently when I called the office of Representative Abigail Spanberger. The broken lock on my mailbox may have seemed like a small problem to many as was the cost to fix it of $20.00. But I did not break the lock. Fortunately, my representative believes in principles also. After contacting the office of Rep. Spanberger, my mailbox lock was repaired at no charge, and my mail is secure again. That’s what happens when you elect someone who will truly represent you like Abigail Spanberger. She proves by her actions that she has your back! That’s empowering!” – Deborah W. Childs

“Abigail and her team were extremely responsive with a very time sensitive issue. It was less than two hours from our request that her team was on the phone with me and less than 24 hours before there was a resolution. I am thankful for your hard work and dedication to our district. Thank you again.” – Darwin Ramos 

“I would like to commend the staff of Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. After a frustrating 14 months waiting for federal retirement benefits to be awarded through the Office of Personnel Management, Kristi Black and Shawn Meredith, through their diligence, were able to secure these benefits in eight days. I am impressed with their commitment to my case and their persistence in resolving this matter for me.”– Cindy Bradley

“We had been waiting for a refund from the government for over a year. The office of Representative Spanberger worked on our behalf and we are thrilled that they resolved our situation and we received our refund. We so appreciate their attention to our need!” – Pattie Cook

“We are extremely happy to receive our passports in such a short time, thanks to the help of Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and her office. Special thanks to Kristi Black for going above and beyond to speed up our passports!”– Silvia Bilacchi

“I came to Representative Spanberger as a last resort. To be honest, I didn’t expect it to actually work. I was pleasantly surprised when Rep. Spanberger’s team told me not even a week later, they got the job done.” – Trinity Carl

“My youngest daughter was getting married and her brother, a Captain in the Army, was stationed across the country. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Defense was enforcing a strict travel ban. With time running out for my son to obtain authorization to travel, I reached out to Congresswoman Spanberger’s office. They quickly jumped into action and had my son fill out a form requesting assistance after describing his situation. The form was forwarded to the Army and within two days, my son was granted leave. While I learned a great number of things through this experience, the biggest lesson I learned is that our representatives are here to help us through these types of situations. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, please reach out to your representative and ask them to help. While they’re not miracle workers, their efforts can go a long way to get people’s attention who may not otherwise take notice.”– James Black

“When I went to file my taxes, I discovered that I had never received a 1099 2 form for my deceased husband for 2018. My husband MSGT (Ret.) William Donald Tomlinson Jr. had died July 19, 2018. I contacted DFAS on March 11, 2019. After being on hold for an hour and 13 minutes and telling my issue, I was told to telephone back in 7-10 days. I proceeded to phone a total of 10 times. Each time, I spoke to a different person, sometimes as many as 4 people, but never the same person. I wrote down names each time. During this time, I was told his final pay for July 2018 had not been processed, so I could not receive a 1099 2. That department would not receive phone calls. I was not alone in waiting. I had consulted my tax consultant, and – for the first time in 50 years – filed an extension.

“Finally, a friend told me I should contact my Representative, as that is why they hold the position. So I reached out to Rep. Spanberger by filling out the appropriate form on her web page. To my pleasant surprise, two days later I received a phone call from Shawn Meredith, District Coordinator. Shawn told me he would take care of the issue. True to his promise, he contacted me to say he had spoken to DFAS and given them 2 weeks to act on me receiving my husband’s final check. I received the check in 10 days and the 1099 all within 3 weeks, after I had tried for 3 months.

“Shawn was always available on the phone. Shawn is amazing! I cannot thank him enough for helping me in this stressful, difficult time. He is professional and compassionate. I hope Rep. Spanberger appreciates Shawn and knows how much he is helping her constituents. Thank you, thank you Shawn.” – Judith Tomlinson

“Ms. Heidelmark and Congresswoman Spanberger – I want to express my sincere gratitude for the time and attention that was provided assisting me. I realize how busy you must be and know that it took a lot of time to process my requests. You demonstrated such a high level of support and professionalism by constantly communicating the status of my requests. Your patience and time was much appreciated and it is through your help that I have official copies of my military records and that my requests have been processed. I am grateful for all you did with assisting me. Thank you.” – Janice Blair

“It was a pleasure to work with Representative Spanberger’s office. I was having trouble getting my passport in time for an upcoming family vacation. I emailed Representative Spanberger’s office on a Tuesday received a call the following day to initiate the process. I heard from the office everyday until my passport arrived, it arrived in less than 7 days. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with this team!!” – Ciara, Prince William

“The team was professional and very helpful. They were ready to listen and help in my case. They really made it easy to get in touch and was punctual with getting back to me with feedback.” – Margaret, Prince William

“Congressman Spanberger has helped our family out when no one else would or could. My wife and I adopted three orphans from Latvia, when at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic we were required to finalize paperwork, she and her capable staff contacted State Department and other agencies to ensure we could travel and keep our family together.” – Mark, Spotsylvania

“Almost immediate results! My case with the FAA had languished for almost four months. It took Rep. Spanberger’s office about a week to shake things loose. Absolutely amazing. Great, responsive staff! They responded to my initial request and follow-up emails with hours, even on a weekend. It’s great to see such dedication.” – Peter Corrao, Spotsylvania

“Got the job done! I was unaware of how beneficial it could be to contact this office.” – Khadeja T.

“Working with Representative Spanberger’s office made the difference in my case. As soon as the office began advocating on my behalf I immediately started to see movement on my issue. Marc was extremely courteous and attentive to my issue. He was extremely communicative and kept me informed regarding where we were in the process. I did not know of constituent services before this interaction but it was an excellent experience that I will share with others in our district.” – Marlon, Prince William

“Where to start? Trying to resolve a simple issue with the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) was an exercise in futility. I went through seven months of back and forth for a simple last name change and check reissue. I remembered elected representatives could help with federal agencies and contacted Rep Spanberger for help. Easily the best decision concerning my issue. Rep. Spanberger’s office responded to my inquiry in one day! In three days, TSP called me; now just 30 days later, my case is resolved. That miracle timeline is all due to the advocacy I received from Rep Spanberger. It was an absolute pleasure working with Shawn to get my case resolved. Shawn was incredibly responsive to my questions and continued to follow up with me and TSP until my case was resolved. Thank you to Shawn is all I can say but there is an incredible amount of appreciation behind that saying. ” – Viyae, Stafford

“Working with your office had an immediate and effective impact on my case as it expedited my passport process stacked for 8 months. Your esteemed office used just three days to fix the issue. Much Appreciated.” – Afua, Stafford

“My case was resolved almost instantly after contacting the office.” – Alexander, Stafford

“Because we had completed our tax returns and both of us are receiving Social Security, our stimulus checks were direct deposited into my checking account. All three were deposited within five working days of the start of day they started to be delivered. Thank you for supporting these checks.” – J. Harold A., Culpeper

“Stimulus money was a first and I was extremely grateful!” – Cynthia, Orange

“I want to thank Rep. Abigail Spanberger for her support if the American Rescue Plan. My wife was an insurance estimator and was laid off over one year ago. When the pandemic hit we were uncertain of how we would be able to pay our bills and put food on the table. The unemployment support and the extension of those benefits helped us make it through those dark times. Without Congresswoman Spanberger’s commitment to stand with and by her constituents, I don’t know where my family would be today.” – Robert, Spotsylvania

“My issue was resolved in two weeks. I have been attempting to get answers and some resolution for over seven months. There truly are no words for the kind and prompt assistance provided. I cannot thank you enough.” – Karen, Stafford

“I have been trying to settle this with OPM going on 3 years. They had it settled within 4 days. The response was simply amazing. I had a response within the hour after filing my claim.” – Kenneth Carey, Spotsylvania