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ISCR Case ISCR Case No.23-02903 — CASE

Case record

ISCR Case ISCR Case No.23-02903

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

Case Profile
Decision Date3/4/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Jennifer I. Goldstein
Government Counsel: Rhett E. Petcher
Case Summary
h her creditors or provided evidence of financial counseling. The administrative judge found that the applicant's financial issues were not mitigated by her explanations or circumstances, as she had a long history of unresolved debts totaling approximately $27,686. The judge noted that the applicant's financial difficulties were exacerbated by periods of unemployment and her responsibilities as a single mother, but these factors did not sufficiently demonstrate a proactive approach to resolving her debts.
Ultimately, the administrative judge ruled against the applicant, denying her eligibility for a security clearance. The decision emphasized that the applicant's ongoing financial issues raised significant concerns regarding her reliability and trustworthiness, which are critical for access to classified information. The judge concluded that the applicant had not provided adequate evidence to mitigate the financial considerations outlined in the Statement of Reasons, leading to the denial of her security clearance application.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline FFinancial Considerations · Against Applicant
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. ISCR Case No.23-02903

deniedMar 4, 2025· Hon. Jennifer I. Goldstein· hearing

Summary

A 44-year-old single mother was denied a security clearance under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to unresolved delinquent debts totaling $27,686. The Statement of Reasons detailed twelve specific financial issues, including multiple charged-off credit card and collection accounts ranging from $177 to $13,328. Additionally, the applicant had a mortgage account foreclosed in 2022, a delinquent property loan in 2022, and a judgment filed against her for $789.

The decision cited disqualifying conditions related to financial irresponsibility and a history of not meeting financial obligations. While mitigating conditions were considered, the applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to alleviate the financial concerns.

Ultimately, the judge emphasized the critical need for a documented track record of debt repayment, which the applicant did not demonstrate. Consequently, the security clearance was denied.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

The applicant has unresolved delinquent debts totaling $27,686.
She did not provide sufficient evidence to mitigate the financial concerns.
The judge emphasized the importance of a documented track record of debt repayment, which the applicant failed to demonstrate.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlWhile the applicant's financial issues were affected by unemployment, she did not act responsibly regarding her debts.
AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceived Financial CounselingThe applicant presented no evidence of financial counseling.
AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay DebtsThe applicant did not demonstrate a good-faith effort to resolve her debts.
AG ¶ 20(e)rejectedDispute Legitimacy of Past-due DebtThe applicant did not provide evidence to substantiate her dispute of the debt.

Key Rule Quoted

“"the clearly consistent standard indicates that security determinations should err, if they must, on the side of denials."”
— Department of Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518, 531 (1988)

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJan 9, 2024
Answer filedJan 15, 2024
Hearing heldFeb 13, 2025
Decision dateMar 4, 2025

Cite For

Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Financial Obligations
Importance of Documented Repayment History in Mitigating Financial Concerns
Impact of Financial Instability on Security Clearance Eligibility

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: denied

The judge found multiple financial concerns under Guideline F, including charged off credit cards, collection accounts, and a judgment against the applicant. Ultimately, the judge ruled against the applicant, determining that the financial issues were unresolved and not sufficiently mitigated.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant is indebted on a charged off credit card in the amount of $6,952. $6,952	Against Applicant	Credit Card Debt	Admitted	—	—	—
1.b	Applicant is indebted on a charged off account in the amount of $2,102. $2,102	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.c	Applicant is indebted on a charged off account in the amount of $1,558. $1,558	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.d	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $789. $789	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.e	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $784. $784	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.f	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $677. $677	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.g	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $540. $540	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	—
1.h	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $177. $177	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Denied	—	—	—
1.i	Applicant is indebted on a mortgage account that was foreclosed upon in 2022.	Against Applicant	Mortgage or Home Loan Debt	Denied	—	—	—
1.j	Applicant was indebted on a delinquent property loan in 2022.	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Denied	—	—	—
1.k	Applicant was indebted on a judgment filed against her in the amount of $789. $789	Against Applicant	Judgment Against Applicant	Denied	—	—	—
1.l	Applicant is indebted on a collection account in the amount of $13,328. $13,328	Against Applicant	Unspecified Financial	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.