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State Agencies Print Social Security Numbers on Mailings... Again

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Social Security numbers were printed on informational brochures sent by the state to recipients of SeniorCare and other state programs, WKOW-TV reported on Tuesday.

The gaffe is the second time in 13 months that the state sent mailings to people with their Social Security numbers printed on the label.

In December 2006, the state Department of Revenue mailed 171,000 tax booklets with the number printed on the label.

It is not known how many brochures were sent by the state Department of Health and Family Services in the latest case. Department spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis told WKOW that the department was still investigating.

She did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

Jane Marvin received the 11-page mailing, titled "Wisconsin Medicaid and BadgerCare recipient update" and dated January 2008. Marvin told WKOW that she also had received the tax mailing last year with her Social Security number on it.

"It's unbelievable," Marvin said. "You would think they (state officials) would have learned from the Revenue Department situation. I am concerned."

The Department of Revenue paid more than $500,000 to provide credit monitoring for those affected by its 2006 mailing. No cases of identity theft have been reported to the state as a result of that incident.

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Information from: WKOW-TV, http://www.wkowtv.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)