Rep. Gillen Recovers Over $4.2 Million For Nassau County Taxpayers Since Taking Office

October 28, 2026 Press Release GARDEN CITY, NY — Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) announced that she has returned over $4.2 million to Nassau County residents owed by the federal government and closed more than 3,300 cases since taking office. As the representative for New York’s Fourth Congressional District, Rep. Gillen has helped constituents recover overpaid taxes, collect disability and retirement benefits, return home from conflict zones abroad and navigate federal agencies. Earlier this year, Rep. Gillen recovered $540,000 in COVID-era tax savings for Chaminade High School, including $150,000 in interest. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wrongly withheld these Employee Retention Credit funds for more than five years due to coding errors. Rep. Gillen’s office worked with the Taxpayer Advocate Service and the IRS to reclassify the school from a government entity to a non‑governmental, tax‑exempt nonprofit private school. This change allowed the school to qualify for critical savings, which were used to retain teachers and support staff during the height of the pandemic. "When I took office, I promised to put more money back in Long Islanders’ pockets and help cut through the bureaucracy and red tape in Washington,” said Rep. Gillen . “I’m proud to have recovered more than $4.2 million for Nassau County residents from federal agencies, including delayed tax refunds, Social Security and veterans benefits, along with other critical savings. I’ll continue to do all I can to ensure Long Islanders receive the money they’re owed from the federal government.” Last September, a Long Beach constituent requested help from Rep. Gillen’s office after her initial application for Social Security Disability benefits was rejected. After Rep. Gillen intervened, the constituent’s case was heard by an Administrative Law Judge in seven months instead of the usual timeframe of up to 18 months. The judge issued a favorable decision for the constituent and granted $44,000 in retroactive benefits and $2,463 in monthly benefits, allowing her to stay in her home. Rep. Gillen and her office have helped constituents with urgent matters, including: Retrieving more than $1.4 million in Social Security benefits. Recovering nearly $1.6 million from delayed IRS returns, tax bill settlements and IRS overcharges. Securing nearly $128,000 in veterans benefits. Rep. Gillen and her office assist constituents with issues involving Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, VA disability claims, OPM retirement benefits, Medicare coverage, passport applications and other federal agencies. Rep. Gillen’s office regularly hosts in-person mobile office hours throughout Nassau County to help constituents open cases and get federal assistance. Constituents can RSVP to mobile office hours here . Constituents who need assistance with a federal agency can call 516-739-3008 or visit Rep. Gillen’s website at https://gillen.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency . ### Issues : In the District