Summary
A 45-year-old widow with four children was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The applicant admitted to having approximately 15 delinquent debts totaling about $12,634, which she failed to disclose on her security clearance application.
The specific financial issues included two judgments from December 2003 for $516 and $289, along with various medical, credit card, and retail accounts placed for collection or charged off between November 2001 and September 2007. These included a $1,465 credit card account, a $1,751 account, and a $3,409 mail order catalogue account, among others.
The judge determined that the applicant's financial irresponsibility, coupled with her deliberate omission of these debts on her application, raised significant concerns about her reliability and trustworthiness. The applicant did not take steps to resolve her debts or seek financial counseling, leading to the denial of her security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant had approximately 15 delinquent accounts totaling about $12,634, indicating an inability to manage her financial obligations.
- The applicant deliberately omitted her delinquent debts from her security clearance application, raising questions about her honesty and reliability.
- The applicant did not take steps to resolve her debts or seek financial counseling, demonstrating a lack of responsibility regarding her financial situation.
Conditions Referenced
- FC DC 19(a)appliedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- FC DC 19(c)appliedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- PC DC 16(a)appliedDeliberate Omission, Concealment, or Falsification of Relevant Facts
- FC MC 20(b)rejectedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlWhile the applicant faced financial difficulties due to circumstances beyond her control, she did not act responsibly to resolve her debts.
- FC MC 20(c)rejectedCounseling for Financial ProblemsThe applicant did not attend financial counseling.
- FC MC 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay CreditorsThe applicant did not take steps to resolve her delinquent accounts.
- PC MC 17(a)rejectedPrompt, Good-faith Efforts to Correct OmissionsThe applicant did not make efforts to correct her omissions before being confronted.
- PC MC 17(c)rejectedMinor Offense or Unlikely to RecurThe applicant's conduct was not minor and was recent.
- PC MC 17(d)rejectedAcknowledgment of Behavior and CounselingThe applicant did not obtain counseling or take positive steps to change her behavior.
- PC MC 17(e)rejectedPositive Steps to Reduce VulnerabilityThe applicant's admissions did not sufficiently mitigate the concerns.
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedMar 24, 2008
- Answer filedMay 29, 2008
- Hearing heldAug 5, 2008
- Decision dateAug 26, 2008
Cite For
- Failure to Disclose Financial Obligations on Security Clearance Applications Under Guideline E
- Inability to Manage Financial Obligations as a Disqualifying Condition Under Guideline F
- The Impact of Personal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility.