Summary
A 37-year-old married man was denied a public trust position due to unresolved financial issues under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant had 20 delinquent debts totaling approximately $27,399, primarily from medical bills and student loans. His wages were garnished in June 2014 to repay student loans, and this garnishment was ongoing. Additionally, a 2012 tax lien was discovered, of which the applicant was unaware, though he stated he would address it.
The applicant acknowledged his financial difficulties, attributing them to unemployment and medical bills. However, he failed to provide documentation of efforts to resolve any of the delinquent debts, nor did he contact creditors or seek financial or credit counseling. He also did not provide evidence to dispute the legitimacy of any debts.
The denial was based on the applicant's failure to demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or seek financial counseling. The majority of his debts remained unresolved and ongoing, leading to concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant failed to provide documentation of efforts to resolve delinquent debts.
- The majority of the debts were unresolved and ongoing, raising concerns about reliability and trustworthiness.
- Applicant did not demonstrate a good-faith effort to repay overdue creditors or seek financial counseling.
Conditions Referenced
- F.1.araisedInability to Satisfy Debts
- F.1.braisedUnwillingness to Satisfy Debts Regardless of the Ability to Do So
- F.1.craisedHistory of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- F.20.bappliedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlApplicant explained unemployment and medical bills as reasons for financial problems.
- F.20.drejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Resolve DebtsApplicant did not provide evidence of contacting creditors or making payments.
- F.20.erejectedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due DebtApplicant did not provide evidence to substantiate a dispute of any debts.
Key Rule Quoted
“Failure to live within one's means, satisfy debts, and meet financial obligations may indicate poor self-control, lack of judgment, or unwillingness to abide by rules and regulations, all of which can raise questions about an individual's reliability, trustworthiness, and ability to protect classified or sensitive information.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJan 25, 2016
- Answer filedMar 1, 2016Applicant elected to have case decided on the written record.
- Hearing held—No hearing; decided on written record.
- Decision dateSep 8, 2017
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Financial Trustworthiness Concerns Under Guideline F
- Importance of Providing Evidence of Good-faith Efforts to Resolve Debts
- Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions