WASHINGTON (AP) – Contractors hired by the Social Security Administration dumped documents from thousands of active disability claims in Chicago, and in Milwaukee investigators discovered 700 pieces of unopened mail and more than 1,230 cases that weren’t entered into the computer system.

Those problems prompted a congressional hearing Thursday, where the agency’s commissioner told Ways and Means subcommittee members that the mismanagement was being addressed and was mostly limited to those two offices.

“I want to assure you that upon discovery of the problems, immediate steps were taken to address them,” said Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart.

Reviews of other regional offices found “nothing in the scope or range of what happened” in Chicago and Milwaukee, she said. The problems first came to light in several stories by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this past summer.

A preliminary audit by the agency’s inspector general confirmed that in the Chicago regional office, documents, such as medical records required to determine eligibility, were discarded from the files of more than 1,200 cases where people were seeking benefits.

“Trash cans were overflowing with discarded documents,” said James Huse Jr., Social Security Administration inspector general.

The audit also is examining claims that agency employees told the contractor to throw away documents. Barnhart denied that, saying employees directed the contractor to toss duplicate documents.

Barnhart also said the Chicago area claimants affected are being contacted to review their cases and will be allowed to submit additional evidence and to request a hearing.

AP-ES-09-25-03 1429EDT