Summary
The applicant, a 39-year-old senior program manager and veteran, faced security concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) due to multiple delinquent debts, including student loans and tax liens. Despite his claims of negotiating payment plans, he failed to provide sufficient documentary evidence to support his assertions, leading to the denial of his security clearance.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: delinquent student loans placed for collection of $6,235 (1.a). delinquent student loans placed for collection of $4,166 (1.b). delinquent student loans placed for collection of $4,080 (1.c). delinquent car loan charged off for $3,868 (1.d). delinquent student loans placed for collection of $2,504 (1.e). delinquent student loans placed for collection of $2,360 (1.f). delinquent medical bill for $208 (1.h). state tax liens for $7,309 (1.i). state tax liens for $536 (1.j). state tax liens for $3,258 (1.k). state tax liens for $4,621 (1.l).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(b), AG ¶ 19(c), AG ¶ 19(f). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(a), AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d), AG ¶ 20(e), AG ¶ 20(g). The decision turned on the following: The applicant had numerous recent delinquent debts, including student loans and tax liens; He failed to provide documentary evidence of efforts to resolve his financial issues or to substantiate his claims of negotiating payment plans; The applicant's financial irresponsibility raised concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had numerous recent delinquent debts, including student loans and tax liens.
- He failed to provide documentary evidence of efforts to resolve his financial issues or to substantiate his claims of negotiating payment plans.
- The applicant's financial irresponsibility raised concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(b)raisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
- 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 Recur
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's Control
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceived Financial Counseling From a Legitimate Source
- AG ¶ 20(d)appliedInitiated and Adhered to a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant demonstrated a good-faith effort regarding the medical debt.
- AG ¶ 20(e)rejectedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt
- AG ¶ 20(g)rejectedArrangements with Tax Authority to File or Pay the Amount Owed
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 14, 2017
- Answer filedDec 13, 2017Requested decision on the written record without a hearing.
- Hearing held—No hearing held; decision made on the written record.
- Decision dateSep 19, 2018
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Financial Irresponsibility Under Guideline F
- Importance of Providing Documentary Evidence to Support Claims of Financial Resolution
- Evaluation of Financial Issues in the Context of the Whole-person Concept