The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has identified 33,000 additional people whose personal information may have been exposed A data violation announced previously.
The agency, which administers a number of state social services, announced in January that the agency employees had “badly” accessed the personal information of people. The violation exposed at least 61,000 Texans to potential fraud, the agency said at the time.
The incident had an impact on the Texans on The additional nutrition aid program (Snap), which helps families with low income to buy food.
On Wednesday, with the additional announcement, the agency now identified at least 94,000 people whose data may have been exposed.
In the two announcements, health and the committee of social services have written that a variety of personal information could have been exposed. This includes comprehensive names and addresses, social security numbers and banking information, among other information.
The agency initially announced the data violation on the same day as Texas Tribune published an article on the incident.
The agency dismissed nine employees as part of the violation, according to Wednesday’s announcement.
“HHSC strengthens internal security controls and is working to implement additional fraud prevention measures, including improved surveillance and alerts to detect suspicious activity,” the agency wrote in its advertisement on Wednesday.
“HHSC understands the impact that this violation of privacy can have and undertakes to protect confidential information from those we serve.”
The Commission encourages all SNAP beneficiaries to verify their accounts for potential fraud and to point out all that is suspect to the police. Impacted SNAP beneficiaries can visit their local benefits office to replace any lost advantage.
The agency also offers two years of credit supervision, free, to people affected. On Wednesday, everyone touched by post was informed by mail, said the agency.
The agency has published additional information in A FAQ on its website.