CASE · Clearance Adjudication Search EngineCASE

Loading case…

ISCR Case 24-00901 — CASE

DOHA Record Explorer

ISCR Case 24-00901

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

Case Profile
Decision Date8/26/2025
Statusgranted
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Candace Le'i Garcia
Government Counsel: Tovah A. Minster
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 44-year-old individual seeking a security clearance, facing allegations under Guideline F (financial considerations) due to a history of financial difficulties, including a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed in July 2018 and 17 delinquent consumer debts totaling over $32,000. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) outlined these financial concerns, prompting the applicant to respond and request a hearing.
During the hearing, the applicant admitted to all allegations in the SOR and provided explanations for her financial situation. She attributed her financial struggles to becoming a single-income household in 2016 and a subsequent period of unemployment from July 2023. However, she demonstrated significant efforts to mitigate her financial issues by selling her home, resolving her debts, and entering into an installment plan with the IRS for past-due taxes. By the time of the hearing, she had settled most of her debts and was actively managing her finances.
The administrative judge ruled in favor of the applicant, granting her eligibility for access to classified information. The judge concluded that the applicant had successfully mitigated the financial concerns by taking proactive steps to resolve her debts and demonstrating a commitment to financial responsibility. The judge noted the applicant's efforts to maintain a budget, seek financial counseling, and her lack of unfavorable issues during her previous employment in a public trust position, which contributed to the overall assessment of her suitability for a security clearance.
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. 24-00901

grantedAug 26, 2025· Hon. Candace Le'i Garcia· hearing

Summary

A 44-year-old single mother with a master's degree was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). These concerns stemmed from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filed in July 2018 and discharged in October 2018, as well as 17 delinquent consumer debts totaling $32,011. An additional credit card account, not initially alleged, was settled for $890 in January 2025.

Disqualifying conditions under Guideline F, specifically AG ¶ 19(a) and AG ¶ 19(c), were raised due to these financial issues. However, the applicant successfully mitigated these concerns by demonstrating significant efforts to resolve her financial situation.

She resolved multiple delinquent debts using proceeds from the sale of her home, received financial counseling, and completed a financial literacy course. Furthermore, she demonstrated responsible financial behavior and maintained a budget after her bankruptcy. These actions satisfied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d), and AG ¶ 20(g), leading to the granting of her security clearance eligibility.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant resolved multiple delinquent debts using proceeds from the sale of her home.
She demonstrated responsible financial behavior and maintained a budget after her bankruptcy.
The applicant received financial counseling and completed a financial literacy course.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

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

Mitigating

AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's Control
AG ¶ 20(c)appliedReceived Financial Counseling
AG ¶ 20(d)appliedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
AG ¶ 20(g)appliedArrangements with Tax Authority

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedJul 24, 2024
Answer filedAug 10, 2024
Hearing heldFeb 18, 2025record kept open until 2025-03-04
Decision dateAug 26, 2025

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F
Importance of Demonstrating Responsible Financial Behavior
Impact of Financial Counseling 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: granted

The judge found that the applicant's financial issues, including a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and multiple delinquent debts, were mitigated by circumstances beyond her control and her efforts to resolve her debts. Ultimately, the judge ruled in favor of the applicant regarding the financial considerations raised under Guideline F.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2018, and her bankruptcy was discharged in October 2018.	For Applicant	Bankruptcy Filing	Admitted	(a) inability to satisfy debts (c) a history of not meeting financial obligations	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly (c) received/receiving counseling; problem being resolved	Claimed Other
1.b	Applicant had 17 delinquent consumer debts, totaling $32,011. $32,011	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	(a) inability to satisfy debts (c) a history of not meeting financial obligations	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly (c) received/receiving counseling; problem being resolved	Claimed Other
1.c	Applicant settled and paid another credit-card account that was not alleged in the SOR, for $890 in January 2025. $890	For Applicant	Credit Card Debt	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.d–1.r	15 sub-charges — specific text not stated in this decision (for the applicant). (low confidence)	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.