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ISCR Case 23-02415 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case 23-02415

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

Case Profile
Decision Date10/11/2024
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Paul J. Mason
Government Counsel: Tovah A. Minster
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 30-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen and software engineer who sought a security clearance for a position with a defense contractor. The adjudicative guidelines at issue were related to financial considerations (Guideline F), as outlined in the Statement of Reasons (SOR), which identified three delinquent debts totaling approximately $14,885. The applicant admitted to these debts, which included a car loan, a charged-off credit card, and a cell phone account, all of which became delinquent in August 2023.
The applicant provided evidence of a consistent repayment history for unalleged student loans over a 12-year period, which he argued demonstrated his commitment to managing his financial obligations. He admitted to the delinquent debts but explained that his financial difficulties were exacerbated by medical expenses and his support for his mother. Although he had not yet made payments on the debts listed in the SOR, he established repayment plans for two of the debts and intended to sell a parcel of property to address the car loan. The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, granting eligibility for security clearance access, citing the applicant's overall financial management, character references, and the mitigating circumstances surrounding his debts.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · For Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 23-02415

grantedOct 11, 2024· Hon. Paul J. Mason· hearing

Summary

A 30-year-old software engineer was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The Statement of Reasons alleged three delinquent debts totaling approximately $14,885: an $11,807 car loan, a $1,703 charged-off credit card, and a $1,375 cell phone account placed for collection. These issues raised disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines (AG) ¶ 19(a) and AG ¶ 19(c).

However, the administrative judge applied mitigating conditions under AG ¶ 20(b) and AG ¶ 20(d). The applicant demonstrated a consistent 12-year repayment history on his student loans and provided financial support to his mother. He also established a plan to repay the outstanding delinquent debts.

These actions collectively demonstrated responsible financial management and a commitment to addressing his financial challenges. Consequently, the judge found that the applicant's efforts mitigated the financial concerns, leading to the decision to grant his eligibility for a security clearance.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant's 12-year repayment history of student loans demonstrated responsible financial management.
He provided financial support to his mother, indicating a commitment to family obligations despite financial challenges.
The applicant established a plan to repay the delinquent debts, showing a willingness to address his financial issues.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant's financial difficulties were exacerbated by his mother's unemployment and his own medical expenses.
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant initiated repayment plans for the delinquent debts and has a history of timely payments on his student loans.

Key Rule Quoted

“When evaluating an applicant’s suitability for a security clearance, the administrative judge must consider the adjudicative guidelines.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedOct 30, 2023
Answer filedDec 2, 2023
Hearing heldMay 2, 2024live in-person hearing held as scheduled
Decision dateOct 11, 2024

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
Importance of a Long-term Repayment History in Financial Cases
Consideration of Family Obligations in Financial Assessments

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 had three delinquent debts totaling approximately $14,885, including a car loan, a charged-off credit card, and a cell phone account. Despite these debts, the judge ruled in favor of the applicant, citing evidence of a repayment plan and the applicant's history of managing other debts responsibly.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Delinquent car loan amounting to $11,807. $11,807	For Applicant	Auto Loan Debt	Admitted	—	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly	Documented Payment Plan with Creditor
1.b	Charged off credit card totaling $1,703. $1,703	For Applicant	Credit Card Debt	Admitted	—	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly	Documented Payment Plan with Creditor
1.c	Cell phone account in the amount of $1,375, placed for collection. $1,375	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly	Documented Payment Plan with Creditor

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.