Summary
A 25-year-old defense contractor employee was denied a security clearance under Guideline F, Financial Considerations. The applicant had accumulated 36 delinquent debts totaling approximately $24,203. These debts raised concerns under Disqualifying Conditions AG ¶ 19(a) and AG ¶ 19(c).
While the applicant admitted to many of the debts and attributed them to personal circumstances, she failed to provide sufficient evidence of financial responsibility or resolution efforts. Specifically, she did not offer documentation of payments made or a concrete plan to resolve the outstanding debts. Her claims regarding her financial situation also lacked supporting evidence.
Although Mitigating Conditions AG ¶ 20(a), AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(c), AG ¶ 20(d), and AG ¶ 20(e) were considered, the adjudicator ultimately determined that the unresolved financial issues presented an unacceptable security risk, leading to the denial of her security clearance application.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant accumulated significant delinquent debts totaling approximately $24,203 over several years.
- She did not provide documentation of payments or a plan to resolve her debts.
- The applicant's claims regarding her financial situation lacked supporting evidence.
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 Unlikely to RecurThe applicant still has significant delinquent debts from 2003.
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in Financial Problems Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant did not provide sufficient explanation of her unemployment's impact on her debts.
- AG ¶ 20(c)rejectedReceived or Receiving Counseling for the ProblemThe applicant has not received financial counseling.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedGood-faith Effort to Repay Overdue CreditorsThe applicant did not provide evidence of payments or repayment plans.
- AG ¶ 20(e)appliedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past Due DebtThis applies to two debts that were duplicates according to the credit report.
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 issuedDec 3, 2008
- Answer filedDec 24, 2008
- Hearing heldN/ACase decided on the record.
- Decision dateApr 24, 2009
Cite For
- Denial of Security Clearance Due to Significant Delinquent Debts Under Guideline F
- Lack of Evidence for Financial Responsibility and Resolution Efforts
- Application of Mitigating Conditions Under AG ¶ 20