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Bernards Township forum: How to navigate SSI, SSDI and federal casework
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Summary
At a Bernards Township forum, Congressman Tom Kean Jr.'s deputy district director urged residents to contact the district office first for Social Security, VA and IRS problems, described ABLE accounts and said the office can often resolve agency errors quickly though formal adjudications can take longer.
Mayor Anna Duarte McCarthy hosted a town-hall discussion on navigating Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), introducing JD, deputy district director for Congressman Tom Kean Jr.'s district office, who urged residents to use the office’s constituent casework services for federal agency issues.
JD opened by noting National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and the congressman’s work on disability policy, including an effort to create a federal ombudsman for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities modeled on New Jersey’s program. He described ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts as tax‑advantaged savings vehicles for people with disabilities that generally do not jeopardize SSI or Medicaid, saying the standard annual contribution limit is $20,000 and that the permanent “able to work” provision can allow additional contributions in some circumstances.
The core of JD’s presentation focused on constituent casework: his office compiles privacy release forms submitted at kane.house.gov and routes problems to the congressman and legislative staff. "Call us first," JD said, explaining the office can contact Social Security, the VA or the IRS on a constituent’s behalf and often gets faster responses than individuals can secure on their own. He described common agency errors—misreported earnings, decimal or rounding mistakes—and said many such errors can be fixed quickly; he also cautioned that cases before administrative judges take longer and the office’s power to accelerate adjudication is limited, though it may be able to restore payments while a hearing proceeds.
JD offered examples of casework outcomes and services: the office maintains direct lines with local Social Security facilities, can arrange expedited passport appointments and helps coordinate with state legislators (he referenced outreach to Senator Bramnick’s office for state-level Medicaid issues). He asked residents to bring specific questions or proposed bill numbers so the legislative team can consider reforms to means-testing caps or other policies.
The session closed with a question-and-answer exchange in which residents asked about means-testing and the $2,000 asset cap, Real ID and non‑driver IDs, and services for veterans and seniors. JD reiterated the office’s contact details and said staff will forward legislative suggestions to the congressman’s legislative team.
The district office provided business cards and said staff would remain available after the event for one‑on‑one questions. Residents seeking help with federal agencies were directed to fill a privacy release form under "Help with a federal agency" at kane.house.gov so the office can open a case.
