CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 23-01899 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 23-01899

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

Case Profile
Decision Date6/12/2024
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Carol G. Ricciardello
Government Counsel: Tara R. Karoian
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 57-year-old individual employed by a federal contractor since October 2020, with a military background and previous security clearance eligibility granted in 2009, 2018, and 2022. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing security concerns under Guideline F, related to financial considerations, specifically five delinquent debts totaling approximately $79,320. The applicant admitted to the debts but provided explanations for his financial difficulties, including job loss due to health issues and personal tragedies, such as the deaths of close family members.
The administrative judge found that the applicant had taken significant steps to mitigate the financial concerns. He resolved two debts and was actively working on settling the remaining debts, demonstrating a commitment to improving his financial situation. The judge noted the applicant's efforts to seek counseling and his stable employment, which contributed to his ability to manage his finances better. Ultimately, the judge ruled in favor of the applicant, granting eligibility for access to classified information, concluding that the applicant's current financial stability and proactive measures outweighed the past financial issues.
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. 23-01899

grantedJun 12, 2024· Hon. Carol G. Ricciardello· hearing

Summary

A 57-year-old federal contractor was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant's financial difficulties were primarily attributed to medical issues and family tragedies, which were deemed largely beyond his control.

The Statement of Reasons cited two specific debts. For a $29,600 debt, the applicant was an authorized user but not ultimately responsible. Regarding a $6,303 judgment, he acknowledged the debt but was actively disputing it with the state employment authority and seeking a waiver.

The decision to grant the clearance was based on several mitigating factors. The applicant demonstrated a commitment to resolving his debts, providing evidence of payments. His current financial situation is stable, and he has a clear plan to address any remaining obligations. The judge concluded that the applicant acted responsibly in managing his financial challenges.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant demonstrated a commitment to resolving his debts and provided evidence of payments made towards them.
He attributed his financial difficulties to circumstances beyond his control, including medical issues and family tragedies.
The applicant's current financial situation is stable, and he has a plan to address remaining debts.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(a)appliedBehavior Occurred Under Circumstances Unlikely to Recur
AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's Control
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
AG ¶ 20(e)appliedReasonable Basis to Dispute Legitimacy of Debt

Key Rule Quoted

“A security clearance adjudication is not a debt-collection procedure. It is a procedure designed to evaluate an applicant’s judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness.”
— ISCR Case No. 09-02160 (App. Bd. Jun. 21, 2010)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedSep 14, 2023
Answer filedOct 1, 2023Applicant elected to have the case decided on the written record.
Hearing held—Decision made based on written record.
Decision dateJun 12, 2024

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Issues Under Guideline F
Consideration of Circumstances Beyond Control in Financial Matters
Evaluation of Good-faith Efforts to Resolve Debts

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: Decision on RecordDecided: granted

The judge found that the applicant mitigated the financial concerns under Guideline F. Although the applicant admitted to debts, he was not ultimately responsible for one debt as an authorized user and has taken steps to resolve the other debts, including completing a payment plan and disputing a judgment.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant admitted the debts in ¶¶ 1.a and 1.e. However, Applicant is an authorized user on the debt alleged in SOR ¶ 1.a ($29,600) and therefore he is not ultimately responsible for the debt. $29,600	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.e	Regarding the judgment in SOR ¶ 1.e ($6,303), he admitted there is a debt, but he is disputing it with the state employment authority and requesting a waiver of payment. $6,303	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Claimed Debt Disputed with Creditor
1.b–1.d	3 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (for the applicant).	For Applicant			—	—	—

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.