ISCR Case 14-00262.h1

Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 14-00262.h1

grantedDec 1, 2014· Hon. Carol G. Ricciardello· hearing

Summary

A 28-year-old woman was granted a security clearance despite initial concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations). The Statement of Reasons (SOR) detailed several debts, including a $36,000 past-due mortgage, a $2,222 online university debt, a $412 credit card debt, a $220 gas bill, a $3,397 apartment rent debt from 2005, a $458 cable bill, and a $445 electric bill. Additionally, a $259 debt was successfully disputed, and the applicant was investigating a $91 debt.

Disqualifying conditions F.19(a) and F.19(c) were raised due to these financial issues, which largely stemmed from her first marriage and her ex-husband's criminal actions and financial mismanagement. However, the applicant demonstrated responsible behavior by resolving or paying several of these debts.

Mitigating conditions F.20(a), F.20(b), F.20(d), and F.20(e) were applied. The applicant showed that the financial issues were largely beyond her control and presented a plan to address the remaining debts, demonstrating a commitment to financial responsibility. Based on these factors, the security clearance was granted.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant resolved or paid several debts, demonstrating responsible financial behavior.
The financial issues were largely due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control, including her ex-husband's criminal actions and financial mismanagement.
The applicant has a plan to address remaining debts and has shown commitment to financial responsibility.

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

F.19(a)raisedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
F.19(c)raisedA History of Not Meeting Financial Obligations

Mitigating

F.20(a)rejectedThe Behavior Happened so Long Ago, Was so Infrequent, or Occurred Under Such Circumstances That It Is Unlikely to Recur and Does Not Cast Doubt on the Individual’s Current Reliability, Trustworthiness, or Good Judgment
F.20(b)appliedThe Conditions That Resulted in the Financial Problem Were Largely Beyond the Person’s Control and the Individual Acted Responsibly Under the Circumstances
F.20(d)appliedThe Individual Initiated a Good-faith Effort to Repay Overdue Creditors or Otherwise Resolve Debts
F.20(e)appliedThe Individual Has a Reasonable Basis to Dispute the Legitimacy of the Past-due Debt Which Is the Cause of the Problem and Provides Documented Proof to Substantiate the Basis of the Dispute or Provides Evidence of Actions to Resolve the Issue

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedApr 11, 2014
Answer filedAug 12, 2014
Hearing heldNov 12, 2014via video teleconference
Decision dateDec 1, 2014

Cite For

Mitigation of Financial Issues Under Guideline F Due to Circumstances Beyond Control
Responsible Behavior in Resolving Debts Despite Past Financial Difficulties
Commitment to Financial Responsibility and Future Debt Resolution Plans

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶19)	Mitigating applied (¶20)	Mitigation
1.a	The debt is SOR ¶ 1.a ($36,000) is the past-due amount on Applicant’s mortgage. $36,000	For Applicant	Mortgage or Home Loan Debt	Admitted	—	(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly	Documented Other
1.b	The debt in SOR ¶ 1.b ($2,222) was to an online university. $2,222	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.c	The debt in SOR ¶ 1.c ($412) is a credit card debt. $412	For Applicant	Credit Card Debt	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.d	The debt in SOR ¶ 1.d ($220) is for a gas bill that her ex-husband failed to pay when he moved out of their house. $220	For Applicant	Utility or Phone Debt	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.e	The debt in SOR ¶ 1.e ($3,397) is for rent on an apartment Applicant and her ex-husband leased in 2005 before they purchased their house. $3,397	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Claimed Other
1.f	The debt in SOR ¶ 1.f ($458) is a cable bill. $458	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.g	Applicant acknowledged the debt in SOR ¶ 1.g ($445) is for an electric bill on the house she owned with her ex-husband. $445	For Applicant	Utility or Phone Debt	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full
1.h	Applicant successfully disputed the debt in SOR ¶ 1.h ($259). $259	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Disputed with Creditor
1.i	Applicant was unfamiliar with the debt in SOR ¶ 1.i ($91) so she contacted the creditor to get information about the debt. $91	For Applicant	Unspecified Financial	Admitted	—	—	Documented Debt Paid in Full

Allegation

Finding

Type

Response

Disqualifying (¶19)

Mitigating applied (¶20)

Mitigation

1.a

The debt is SOR ¶ 1.a ($36,000) is the past-due amount on Applicant’s mortgage.

$36,000

For Applicant

Mortgage or Home Loan Debt

Admitted

—

(b) conditions largely beyond the person’s control; acted responsibly

Documented

Other

1.b

The debt in SOR ¶ 1.b ($2,222) was to an online university.

$2,222

For Applicant

Unspecified Financial

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

1.c

The debt in SOR ¶ 1.c ($412) is a credit card debt.

$412

For Applicant

Credit Card Debt

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

1.d

The debt in SOR ¶ 1.d ($220) is for a gas bill that her ex-husband failed to pay when he moved out of their house.

$220

For Applicant

Utility or Phone Debt

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

1.e

The debt in SOR ¶ 1.e ($3,397) is for rent on an apartment Applicant and her ex-husband leased in 2005 before they purchased their house.

$3,397

For Applicant

Unspecified Financial

Admitted

—

Claimed

Other

1.f

The debt in SOR ¶ 1.f ($458) is a cable bill.

$458

For Applicant

Unspecified Financial

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

1.g

Applicant acknowledged the debt in SOR ¶ 1.g ($445) is for an electric bill on the house she owned with her ex-husband.

$445

For Applicant

Utility or Phone Debt

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

1.h

Applicant successfully disputed the debt in SOR ¶ 1.h ($259).

$259

For Applicant

Unspecified Financial

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Disputed with Creditor

1.i

Applicant was unfamiliar with the debt in SOR ¶ 1.i ($91) so she contacted the creditor to get information about the debt.

$91

For Applicant

Unspecified Financial

Admitted

—

Documented

Debt Paid in Full

Loading case…

Case Profile

Summary

Why the Applicant Prevailed

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

Procedural Posture

Cite For

Full decision

DEFENSE OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS

HEARING

APPEARANCES

STATEMENT OF CASE

FINDINGS OF FACT

POLICIES

ANALYSIS

WHOLE PERSON CONCEPT

FORMAL FINDINGS

CONCLUSION

FOOTNOTES