CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 19-01524 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 19-01524

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date5/27/2020
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Claude R. Heiny II
Government Counsel: Bryan J. Olmos
Case Summary
the case of ISCR No. 19-01524, the applicant, a 29-year-old manufacturing supervisor with a background in the U.S. Air Force, sought a security clearance from the Department of Defense. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) issued against him cited concerns under Guideline F, related to financial considerations, due to multiple collection, charged-off, and delinquent accounts.
The applicant admitted to several debts, including two charged-off accounts for repossessed vehicles, while denying a $603 medical collection account and a $728 collection account. He provided evidence of his current financial stability, including being current on his mortgage and vehicle payments, and having a 401(k) retirement plan. He explained that his financial difficulties stemmed from challenges transitioning to civilian life after military service, but he demonstrated efforts to address his debts, including settling some accounts and maintaining a budget.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, granting him eligibility for access to classified information. The judge found that the applicant had made significant progress in managing his finances, was current on his obligations, and had taken steps to mitigate the financial concerns raised in the SOR. The judge concluded that the applicant's overall financial situation did not pose a risk to national security, aligning with the adjudicative guidelines that emphasize the importance of evaluating the totality of an applicant's circumstances.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · For Applicant
Similar decisions
Other decisions whose allegations read most like this one. Descriptive similarity of the allegations only — not a prediction.
Finding similar decisions…

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 19-01524

grantedMay 27, 2020· Hon. Claude R. Heiny II· hearing

Summary

A 29-year-old manufacturing supervisor and U.S. Air Force veteran was granted a security clearance under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) despite past financial issues. The Statement of Reasons detailed several debts, including a $603 medical collection account, a $728 collection account, two charged-off accounts for repossessed vehicles, and a charged-off account for a guitar purchase.

The applicant admitted a $603 medical debt for anesthesia services, which was later settled, and a $480 cell phone debt that was paid. However, he denied or disputed other alleged debts, including a $728 cell phone bill collection, a $1,692 medical account, and a $219 power and light debt.

The judge found that the applicant had mitigated the financial concerns. This was based on his good-faith efforts to repay overdue creditors, resolve debts, and maintain current payments on his mortgage and vehicle loans. The judge also noted that some financial issues stemmed from circumstances beyond the applicant's control, such as job loss, ultimately leading to the clearance being granted.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors and resolve debts.
He maintained current payments on his mortgage and vehicle loans, showing financial stability.
The applicant's financial issues were largely due to circumstances beyond his control, such as loss of employment.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
AG ¶ 19(c)raisedHistory of Not Meeting Financial Obligations

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(a)appliedBehavior Happened Long Ago or Infrequently
AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's Control
AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceiving Financial Counseling
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay Debts
AG ¶ 20(e)appliedReasonable Basis to Dispute Debts

Key Rule Quoted

“The ultimate determination of whether to grant eligibility for a security clearance must be an overall common-sense judgment based upon careful consideration of the guidelines and the whole-person concept.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMay 31, 2019
Answer filedJun 27, 2019
Hearing heldJan 15, 2020
Decision dateMay 27, 2020

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Issues Under Guideline F
Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Evaluations
Good-faith Efforts in Debt Repayment as a Mitigating Factor

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline F · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant mitigated the financial considerations security concerns related to several debts. All allegations were ruled in favor of the applicant, indicating a positive resolution of the financial issues presented.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant denied a $603 medical collection account and a $728 collection account. $603	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Denied	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant admitted the two charged-off accounts for two repossessed vehicles. $0	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant admitted a charged-off account for a guitar purchase. $997	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.d	Applicant admitted a $603 medical debt for anesthesia services, which was later settled. $603	For Applicant	Medical Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.e	Applicant disputed a $728 collection account for a cell phone bill. $728	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Denied	—	—	—
1.f	Applicant disputed a $1,692 medical account that was placed for collection. $1,692	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Denied	—	—	—
1.g	Applicant paid a $480 cell phone debt that was placed for collection. $480	For Applicant	Utility or Phone Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.h	Applicant disputed a $219 power and light debt that was placed for collection. $219	For Applicant	Utility or Phone Debt	Denied	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline F). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.