Clearance Denied (Student loans?)

DSS / DISCO / Interim Clearances for Industrial Personnel Clearance Applicants

Has anyone had a clearance application from the DSS denied? I recently got denied and the DSS (DoD Security Services) does not disclose why they would reject an application if they did. After reading their "FAQ" on why it states that financial considerations "For example, a history of not meeting financial obligations or an inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts." are the most common reason why people get declined. I was wondering if anyone knows the qualifying credit scores required for clearances are or if there is a way to find out due to the freedom of information act or something similar. Anyone know if there is a way of finding out exactly what I need to do to rectify the situation?

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Comments

tpatt100

There was a web site I forget where that listed clearance approvals and denials, forgot where but people were talking about it on another forum I used to go to. It showed reasons why mostly it was debts not being settled or arrangements setup for payment plans. I read the last several years due to the economy they have gotten a little bit more forgiving basically if you have bad debt you show you have payment arrangements setup. Now if its a TS clearance I think they take income debt ratio more serious because your more likely to take bribes or engage in risky behavior if you are swimming in debt.

hiddenknight821

Nevins wrote: »

DSS / DISCO / Interim Clearances for Industrial Personnel Clearance Applicants

Has anyone had a clearance application from the DSS denied? I recently got denied and the DSS (DoD Security Services) does not disclose why they would reject an application if they did. After reading their "FAQ" on why it states that financial considerations "For example, a history of not meeting financial obligations or an inability or unwillingness to satisfy debts." are the most common reason why people get declined. I was wondering if anyone knows the qualifying credit scores required for clearances are or if there is a way to find out due to the freedom of information act or something similar. Anyone know if there is a way of finding out exactly what I need to do to rectify the situation?

I believe they do disclose it if you request it in writing. You would need to get that letter notarized though. When you get your response back, it would probably be vague. When I read mine, I felt like I need a lawyer to translate it for me. My interim clearance got denied on the day of my orientation when I was suppose to be interning at DoD previous summer. I knew why my clearance got denied, but it was wrong for them not to continue investigating on that matter since I have not heard from them about it. I plan to see a lawyer about it when I feel it's time for me to work in the public sector, but I rather give it 7 years to elapse.

powerfool

They don't use FICO scores, but they use some of the sames means that Fair Isaac Corporation uses to determine risk factors. Also, it looks like you were just denied your interim clearance, which means that you could get approved for your full clearance later. The best thing for you to do is to go to CreditBoards dot Com and follow the advice there to clean up your credit. The distance of time between poor financial behavior also improves your odds.

SteveLord

Unfortunately one's credit score improves slow as hell no matter what you do as time is your worst enemy.

Nevins

The kicker here is my student loans (if that comes back to be the case) Would be paid off in about 2 months given the amount of money I was offered.

SephStorm

All,

Your credit score is not a consideration when processing a government security clearance. What is is the actual history. They want to see what kind of history you have, like the users above said, the time elapsed, and perhaps most importantly, your willingness to disclose the information and the circumstances regarding it. For some investigations you will meet with an OPM or DSS investigator who is assigned to your case, and you can discuss those situations with them, but disclose them in writing before hand.

Obviously another factor is likely the position you are being considered for. What flies while being considered for an IT job may not fly as and Intel Analyst, or an Criminal Investigator, ect. Working for DoD is different than working for DIA, or The President.

As far as disclosure, i'll ask some people who should know.

afcyung

"Grant interim security clearances for access to Top Secret and Secret information when the requirements of DoD 5200.2-R, paragraph 3.401 have been met." Start with Dod 5200.2. If your interim was denied it was because you failed to meet some part of the reg. You can request your investigation information from the office that did your investigation. Here is the kicker, if its an interim it just means that something came up and they need to actually submit the package to the adjudicators for a final review. If you submitted a SF 86 and marked a yes when the correct answer should have been no (you were being truthful) then that would be grounds to deny an interim. If it is your credit the only way to get a clearance is to settle the debt or provide a payment plan and then show you are making payments.

SephStorm

Afcyung is correct, get with the office who initiated the investigation, they should either already have or be able to request a Record (Statement) of Findings if I remember the name correctly.

Zartanasaurus

Nevins wrote: »

The kicker here is my student loans (if that comes back to be the case) Would be paid off in about 2 months given the amount of money I was offered.

Are you currently delinquent on your loans?

xenodamus

If it was your interim that was denied, you could still pass the actual investigation.

I was denied an interim secret, but was approved after the investigation. Being denied an interim just means there's something on your application that warrants further review.

How far behind are you on the loans?

Devilsbane

powerfool wrote: »

They don't use FICO scores, but they use some of the sames means that Fair Isaac Corporation uses to determine risk factors.

...

The best thing for you to do is to go to CreditBoards dot Com and follow the advice there to clean up your credit. The distance of time between poor financial behavior also improves your odds.

www.annualcreditreport.com is the website set up by the government to see your report(s) for free. (There are many scams out there, so be careful). They won't give you your score for free, however. If you're curious that will cost you $10 or something. Mainly you can just use this to make sure that what they have on file is what really happened. Sometimes mistakes are made and you can open a dispute to resolve these.

j_griffith

Devilsbane wrote: »

www.anualcreditreport.com is the website set up by the government to see your report(s) for free. (There are many scams out there, so be careful). They won't give you your score for free, however. If you're curious that will cost you $10 or something. Mainly you can just use this to make sure that what they have on file is what really happened. Sometimes mistakes are made and you can open a dispute to resolve these.

That is annualcreditreport.com.

gunbunnysoulja

SephStorm wrote: »

...and perhaps most importantly, your willingness to disclose the information and the circumstances regarding it.

+1. I have heard from many that the most important aspect is to be upfront about everything. I know having bad debt plays a role, but being honest is more important. Mention EVERYTHING!

higherho

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

Are you currently delinquent on your loans?

You can be delinquent on your student loans for 13 days. AES / gov have a grace period on your loans. If you use the grace period then it will show up as delinquent on your account until you pay it within that period. However, if its pass the grace period you can default on your loans which looks horrible.

If they denied you its not because of the amount of student loans you have (in my investigation they understood my debt) but they do look at your character and if you pay your bills on time, etc.

pzero

higherho wrote: »

If they denied you its not because of the amount of student loans you have (in my investigation they understood my debt) but they do look at your character and if you pay your bills on time, etc.

I can only speak from my localised experience, but if your financial house isnt in order you may be more open to a bribe.

higherho

pzero wrote: »

I can only speak from my localised experience, but if your financial house isnt in order you may be more open to a bribe.

I agree. It also Depends on how much If you took out 100k to 200k in loans and are majoring in a major that typically on average gets 40k to start than that will look really bad not just because of a bribe but because you were financially careless and put yourself in a situation that could make you bankrupt or higher chance to take a bribe.

From what I remember they say the average student loan debt is anywhere between 25 to 35 k.

If you file for bankruptcy in the past 20 years than you will most likely never get a TS.

SephStorm wrote: »

All,

Your credit score is not a consideration when processing a government security clearance. What is is the actual history. They want to see what kind of history you have, like the users above said, the time elapsed, and perhaps most importantly, your willingness to disclose the information and the circumstances regarding it. For some investigations you will meet with an OPM or DSS investigator who is assigned to your case, and you can discuss those situations with them, but disclose them in writing before hand.

Obviously another factor is likely the position you are being considered for. What flies while being considered for an IT job may not fly as and Intel Analyst, or an Criminal Investigator, ect. Working for DoD is different than working for DIA, or The President.

As far as disclosure, i'll ask some people who should know.

I agree. Thats what I was told after I got my clearances.

Devilsbane

j_griffith wrote: »

That is annualcreditreport.com.

lol, that it is.

Devilsbane

pzero wrote: »

I can only speak from my localised experience, but if your financial house isnt in order you may be more open to a bribe.

This is true in some cases. The other side of the coin is that it is a way to see your true character. Somebody who racks up a bunch of debt with no intent to pay it off probably isn't someone you want working for you. They won't (or at least shouldn't) disqualify you for having student loan debt or credit card debt if you are making the minimum payments and at least trying to pay it off.

CCIEWANNABE

Yeah, filling out the SF-86 is a killer. I know people that have had issues with their clearance, even getting just a Secret clearance because of Financial Issues. Its tough to get a clearance, especially after 9/11. They stepped up their attention to detail. I mean, when the investigator comes back to interview you after they have done their Top Secret Investigation they pretty much know more about you than you do.

Nevins

For an update on this I sent out a FOIA request letter and am waiting to hear back from the DSS.

djones@fdicfcu.org

stay strong my friend. i too was denied an interim.... 2 or 3 times actually. i had got into some trouble back when i was a teen and being that they go 10 yrs back they definately wanted to speak to me just to clear up any questions. my full ts/ssbi clearance was granted about a month ago so it isnt entirely bad for you.

Turgon

Devilsbane wrote: »

This is true in some cases. The other side of the coin is that it is a way to see your true character. Somebody who racks up a bunch of debt with no intent to pay it off probably isn't someone you want working for you. They won't (or at least shouldn't) disqualify you for having student loan debt or credit card debt if you are making the minimum payments and at least trying to pay it off.

Some people just rack up a ton of debt, life gets in the way and they cant pay it off. The banks have a lot to answer for and get bailed out at the expense of the taxpayer no matter if they couldn't pay their debts off or not. Just a thought.

DigitalZeroOne

Even if you get denied after they run a full investigation, there are lawyers that specialize in fighting denied clearances. Of course you need to have money up front to pay them, but it is possible to get denied and then hire a lawyer and have that overturned.

It all depends on how willing you are to fight it.

Turgon

CCIEWANNABE wrote: »

Yeah, filling out the SF-86 is a killer. I know people that have had issues with their clearance, even getting just a Secret clearance because of Financial Issues. Its tough to get a clearance, especially after 9/11. They stepped up their attention to detail. I mean, when the investigator comes back to interview you after they have done their Top Secret Investigation they pretty much know more about you than you do.

Im all for increasing scrutiny due to 9/11 but it costs money, taxpayers money, that goes into people's pockets. I hope that scrutiny is properly focussed.