Summary
The applicant, a 51-year-old engineering technician, sought a security clearance under Guideline F due to financial considerations. He admitted to multiple debts, including two significant judgments totaling over $19,000, and failed to provide sufficient evidence of efforts to resolve these debts. The judge concluded that the applicant did not mitigate the security concerns, resulting in a denial of his clearance.
Under Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: an automobile repossession collection account for $9,306 (1.a). a past-due account from a credit union for $928 (1.b). a collection account from a cable company for $186 (1.c). a judgment for credit card debt filed in 2009 for $8,159 (1.d). a judgment for credit card debt filed in 2008 for $11,624 (1.e). a collection account from a cell phone company for $1,093 (1.f). a collection account for a medical bill for $85 (1.g). a collection account for a medical bill for $87 (1.h).
The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(c). The judge applied mitigating conditions AG ¶ 20(b), AG ¶ 20(d). The decision turned on the following: The applicant failed to provide documentation showing he resolved significant debts, including two judgments totaling over $19,000; He did not demonstrate a credible plan to address his financial issues or provide evidence of financial counseling; The applicant's financial problems were ongoing and not sufficiently mitigated by his limited actions.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- The applicant failed to provide documentation showing he resolved significant debts, including two judgments totaling over $19,000.
- He did not demonstrate a credible plan to address his financial issues or provide evidence of financial counseling.
- The applicant's financial problems were ongoing and not sufficiently mitigated by his limited actions.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 20(b)rejectedConditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s ControlThe applicant did not act responsibly to resolve his debts.
- AG ¶ 20(d)rejectedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve DebtsThe applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence of a plan to resolve his debts.
Key Rule Quoted
“Eligibility for a security clearance is predicated upon the applicant meeting the criteria contained in the adjudicative guidelines.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedNov 6, 2014
- Answer filedNov 28, 2014
- Hearing held—Decided on the written record.
- Decision dateApr 14, 2015
Cite For
- Failure to Mitigate Financial Issues Under Guideline F
- Importance of Demonstrating a Credible Plan for Debt Resolution
- Consideration of the Whole-person Concept in Security Clearance Decisions.