Summary
The applicant, a 39-year-old senior security engineer, faced security concerns under Guideline F due to approximately $18,000 in debts, including three judgments and eleven accounts in collection. The applicant demonstrated a commitment to resolving his financial issues by making payments and seeking financial counseling, leading to the granting of his security clearance.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Judgment. $3,071 (1.a). Judgment. $2,896 (1.b). Charged-off telephone account. $186 (1.h). Student loan charged-off. $5,891 (1.i). Collection firm collecting on a telephone account. $648 (1.j). Judgment on a delinquent student loan. $4,137 (1.k). Collection firm collecting on a credit card account. $851 (1.n).
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(c), AG ¶ 20(d), AG ¶ 20(e). The decision turned on the following: The applicant has paid, is paying, or has arranged payment on all debts; The applicant sought financial counseling and demonstrated a pattern of timely payments on his obligations; The applicant's financial issues were largely due to supporting his mother during her financial difficulties, which have since been resolved.
Why the Applicant Prevailed
- The applicant has paid, is paying, or has arranged payment on all debts.
- The applicant sought financial counseling and demonstrated a pattern of timely payments on his obligations.
- The applicant's financial issues were largely due to supporting his mother during her financial difficulties, which have since been resolved.
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 debts were recent and numerous.
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in Financial Problems Were Largely Beyond the Person's ControlThe applicant chose to assist his mother, leading to financial issues.
- AG ¶ 20(c)appliedReceived Counseling for the Problem And/or Clear Indications That the Problem Is Being Resolved
- AG ¶ 20(d)appliedInitiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors
- AG ¶ 20(e)notedReasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt
Key Rule Quoted
“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedMar 11, 2009
- Answer filedApr 6, 2009
- Hearing heldAug 3, 2009
- Decision dateSep 2, 2009
Cite For
- Mitigation of Financial Issues Under Guideline F
- Importance of Demonstrating a Pattern of Debt Repayment
- Consideration of Personal Circumstances Affecting Financial Stability