CDSE Publishes Job Aid to Help Individuals Address Financial Concerns

It is well known that financial issues are the number one cause for security clearance eligibility denials and revocations by the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals. To help address this, the Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) recently published a job aid called Financial Considerations: Military Resources that provides military and civilian employees a better understanding of the importance of keeping their finances in order, thus preventing potential issues in obtaining and maintaining security clearance eligibility.

The job aid supplements military financial literacy and readiness programs that are meant to teach individuals about financial responsibility. Additionally, financial counseling programs include information on budgeting, making responsible decisions on purchases, debt management, and planning for long-term goals. The CDSE job aid also provides resources for individuals to find additional assistance if needed, including approved credit counseling agencies.

Security clearance applicants and current clearance holders who are experiencing financial difficulties should go to Security Executive Agent Directive 4 under Financial Considerations and read what the concerns and mitigating factors for each are. The more mitigating factors one has in their specific scenario, the better their chances are to get clearance eligibility because it shows responsibility and that positive steps have been taken. Adjudicators and appeals judges are not looking to see if individuals have paid off all their debts, but rather, are looking to see if the individual is taking a responsible approach and continuing to make a good-faith effort to resolve any delinquencies.