Summary
A 33-year-old former Marine and current IT employee was denied a security clearance under Guideline F, Financial Considerations, due to significant unresolved delinquent debts totaling $59,605. The Statement of Reasons (SOR) alleged eight past-due debts. These included a satellite television service debt from 2014, and two disputed cell phone service debts. The remaining debts were also identified as past-due.
The applicant's financial issues raised disqualifying conditions under Adjudicative Guidelines (AG) ¶ 19(a) and AG ¶ 19(c). While mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(a), AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d), and AG ¶ 20(e) were considered, they were not sufficient to overcome the security concerns.
The denial was based on the applicant's failure to resolve the $59,605 in delinquent debts and his inability to present sufficient mitigating information. Despite claims of pending VA benefits to address these debts, the judge found no concrete plan for resolution or evidence of financial responsibility, concluding that the applicant's financial issues demonstrated poor self-control and a lack of judgment.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant incurred significant delinquent debts totaling $59,605, which remain unresolved.
- Applicant did not present sufficient information to mitigate the security concerns regarding his finances.
- The judge found that the applicant's financial issues indicated poor self-control and lack of judgment.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(a)rejectedBehavior Happened so Long Ago, Was Infrequent, or Occurred Under Circumstances Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's financial issues are ongoing and unresolved.
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant's financial problems were due to poor financial judgment.
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceived or Is Receiving Counseling for the ProblemThe applicant had only met with a financial counselor once before the hearing.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedInitiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant has not taken tangible action to address his debts.
- AG ¶ 20(e)rejectedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due DebtThe applicant did not provide documentation to support his disputes.
Key Rule Quoted
“A security clearance decision is intended only to resolve whether it is clearly consistent with the national interest for an applicant to either receive or continue to have access to classified information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedDec 12, 2015
- Answer filed—
- Hearing heldJun 28, 2016
- Decision dateNov 17, 2016
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Unresolved Financial Issues Under Guideline F
- Insufficient Evidence of Financial Responsibility and Planning
- Impact of Financial Judgment on Security Clearance Suitability