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Summary

The applicant, a 36-year-old employee of a defense contractor, sought security clearance under Guideline F due to multiple past-due debts primarily linked to her estranged husband's financial behavior. The judge found that the applicant had made significant efforts to address her debts and attributed much of her financial issues to circumstances beyond her control, ultimately granting her security clearance.

Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $13,741 to Creditor A, as the result of the repossession of one of her husband’s many motor vehicles (1.a). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $12,510 to Creditor B, as the result of the repossession of another one of her husband’s many motor vehicles (1.b). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $7,961 to Creditor C, as the result of the repossession of another one of her husband’s many motor vehicles (1.c). Applicant admits that she has a past-due debt for about $5,900 to Creditor D, as the result of the repossession of another one of her husband’s many motor vehicles (1.d). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $3,261 to Creditor E (1.e). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $3,023 to Creditor F (1.f). Applicant admits that she has a past-due debt for about $2,633 to Creditor G, as the result of cosigning for one of her estranged husband’s credit cards (1.g). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $2,164 to Creditor H (1.h). Applicant admits that she had a past-due medical debt for about $850 to Creditor I (1.i). Applicant denies that she had a past-due medical debt for about $735 to Creditor J (1.j). Applicant admits that she had a past-due medical debt for about $698 to Creditor K (1.k). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $580 to Creditor L (1.l). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $346 to Creditor M (1.m). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $329 to Creditor N (1.n). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $242 to Creditor O (1.o). Applicant admits that she had past-due medical debts totaling about $387 to Creditor P (1.p). Applicant admits that she had a past-due debt for about $124 to Creditor Q (1.q).

The judge granted the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(b), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(d), AG ¶ 20(e). The decision turned on the following: The applicant demonstrated a good-faith effort to address her past-due debts; Most debts were attributed to her estranged husband's financial behavior, which was largely beyond her control; The applicant provided evidence of debt resolution and payments made towards her obligations.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

• The applicant demonstrated a good-faith effort to address her past-due debts.
• Most debts were attributed to her estranged husband's financial behavior, which was largely beyond her control.
• The applicant provided evidence of debt resolution and payments made towards her obligations.

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

“The administrative judge’s overarching adjudicative goal is a fair, impartial, and commonsense decision.”

Procedural Posture

• SOR issuedOct 27, 2020
• Answer filed—
• Hearing heldFeb 24, 2021Hearing convened as scheduled.
• Decision dateJun 7, 2021

Cite For

• Mitigating Conditions Under Guideline F Due to Circumstances Beyond Control
• Good-faith Efforts to Resolve Financial Obligations
• Impact of Estranged Spouse's Financial Behavior on Applicant's Debts