Summary
A 31-year-old electrician working for a defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to financial considerations under Guideline F. The applicant faced concerns stemming from multiple delinquent debts, including student loans and a federal tax debt for tax years 2014 and 2015, totaling approximately $2,785. Other outstanding debts included a $3,941 medical debt from 2012, a $525 medical bill, and an alleged $725 unsatisfied judgment which the applicant denied, stating he had no business with the bank.
The applicant admitted to the delinquent student loans and the federal tax debt, but took no action to resolve the student loans. While he claimed to have made payments on the $525 medical bill, reducing its balance by half, and asserted that a $446 cellphone bill, $58 in bridge tolls, and a $25 medical bill were paid in full, he failed to provide sufficient documentation to support these claims or any efforts toward financial counseling.
The denial was based on the applicant's admission of multiple delinquent debts, the lack of documentary evidence for claimed payments or financial counseling, and the numerous and recent nature of his financial issues, which indicated a lack of control over his financial situation.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant admitted to multiple delinquent debts, including student loans and a federal tax debt.
- The applicant did not provide documentary evidence to support claims of payments or financial counseling.
- The applicant's financial issues were numerous and recent, indicating a lack of control over his financial situation.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 19(f)raisedFailure to Pay Annual Federal, State, or Local Income Tax as Required
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedBehavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's delinquent debts are numerous and recent.
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlUnemployment was not entirely beyond the applicant's control due to prior termination for tardiness.
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceived or Is Receiving Financial CounselingThe applicant has not received financial counseling.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedInitiated and Is Adhering to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant provided no evidence of good-faith efforts to resolve debts.
- AG ¶ 20(g)rejectedMade Arrangements with the Appropriate Tax Authority to File or Pay the Amount OwedThe applicant did not provide evidence of compliance with a payment plan for tax debts.
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedNov 17, 2017
- Answer filedJan 16, 2018
- Hearing heldMay 21, 2018
- Decision dateAug 1, 2018
Cite For
- Denial Based on Inability to Manage Financial Obligations Under Guideline F
- Lack of Sufficient Documentation to Support Claims of Financial Responsibility
- Rejection of Mitigating Conditions Due to Recent and Numerous Debts