Summary
The applicant, a 47-year-old training developer with a history of financial difficulties, faced security concerns under Guideline F due to delinquent debts totaling approximately $11,339. The judge found that the applicant acted responsibly to mitigate these concerns by resolving debts and maintaining a stable financial situation, ultimately granting her eligibility for a security clearance.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant fell behind on her mortgage-loan payments (1.a). two credit-card accounts with past-due amounts of $578 (1.b). two credit-card accounts with past-due amounts of $183 (1.c). parking violation debts of $400 (1.d). parking violation debts of $400 (1.e). parking violation debts of $300 (1.f). parking violation debts of $250 (1.g). $214 medical debt (1.h). $76 debt (1.i).
The judge granted 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(d), AG ¶ 20(e). The decision turned on the following: The applicant successfully resolved her delinquent mortgage loan debt and maintained current payments since June 2014; She entered repayment plans for two credit card debts and has kept them current since 2015; The applicant disputed several debts that were not hers and provided evidence of their resolution.
Why the applicant prevailed
- The applicant successfully resolved her delinquent mortgage loan debt and maintained current payments since June 2014.
- She entered repayment plans for two credit card debts and has kept them current since 2015.
- The applicant disputed several debts that were not hers and provided evidence of their resolution.
Conditions referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(a)appliedBehavior Happened so Long Ago, Was Infrequent, or Occurred Under Circumstances Unlikely to Recur
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions That Resulted in Financial Problems Were Largely Beyond the Person's Control
- AG ¶ 20(d)appliedIndividual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
- AG ¶ 20(e)appliedIndividual Has a Reasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt
Key rule quoted
“A security clearance adjudication is an evaluation of an individual’s judgment, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is not a debt-collection procedure.”
Procedural posture
- SOR issuedSep 2, 2014
- Answer filedSep 25, 2014
- Hearing held—Applicant requested a decision on the record without a hearing.
- Decision dateFeb 22, 2017
Cite for
- Mitigation of Financial Concerns Under Guideline F Due to Circumstances Beyond the Applicant's Control
- Good Faith Efforts to Resolve Debts as a Basis for Granting Security Clearance
- Evaluation of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Determinations