Summary
The applicant, a 54-year-old dispatcher with 36 years of employment, faced security clearance denial under Guideline F due to ten delinquent debts totaling $181,159, including significant tax liabilities. The judge found insufficient evidence of efforts to resolve these debts, leading to concerns about the applicant's financial responsibility and reliability.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: SOR ¶ 1.a alleges a March 2008 federal tax lien for tax years 2004 and 2005 for $80,961 (1.a). SOR ¶ 1.b alleges an April 2008 federal tax lien for tax year 2006 for $25,445 (1.b). SOR ¶ 1.c alleges a 2012 federal tax lien for tax year 2007 for $11,778 (1.c). SOR ¶ 1.d alleges a federal tax debt for $29,107 for tax year 2010 (1.d). SOR ¶ 1.e alleges a 2012 state tax lien for $26,161 (1.e). SOR ¶ 1.f alleges a 2012 judgment for $725 (1.f). SOR ¶ 1.g alleges a 2012 judgment for $1,095 (1.g). SOR ¶ 1.h alleges a 2012 judgment for $1,542 (1.h). SOR ¶ 1.i alleges a 2012 judgment for $2,190 (1.i). SOR ¶ 1.j alleges a charged-off debt for $2,145 (1.j).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(a), AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d), AG ¶ 20(e). The decision turned on the following: The applicant has ten delinquent debts totaling $181,159, including state and federal tax debts of $173,462; The applicant did not provide documentation showing resolution of any SOR debts; The applicant failed to demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or resolve debts.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant has ten delinquent debts totaling $181,159, including state and federal tax debts of $173,462.
- The applicant did not provide documentation showing resolution of any SOR debts.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or resolve debts.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedThe Person Has Received or Is Receiving Counseling for the Problem
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
- AG ¶ 20(e)rejectedThe Individual Has a Reasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 30, 2015
- Answer filedMar 11, 2016Requested decision without a hearing.
- Hearing held—
- Decision dateMar 7, 2017
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Financial Obligations
- Insufficient Evidence of Financial Responsibility
- Impact of Financial Issues on Security Clearance Eligibility