Guideline F – Financial Considerations

Can Debt Cost You Your Clearance? Yes. But Here’s How to Fight Back.

Financial problems don’t just impact your credit score — they can cost you your security clearance and your career. Under Guideline F: Financial Considerations, the government views financial distress as a potential national security risk, particularly if it reflects poor judgment, irresponsibility, or a vulnerability to coercion or bribery.

But here’s the good news: most Guideline F cases are fixable—if handled the right way, with the right strategy, and by the right legal team.

At National Security Law Firm, we’ve helped hundreds of federal employees, service members, and government contractors protect their clearances despite bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax debt, missed payments, and even garnishments. If your finances have raised red flags, we’re ready to fight for your future.

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What Is Guideline F?

Guideline F – Financial Considerations evaluates whether an applicant’s financial situation indicates:

• Poor judgment or lack of self-control

• Unwillingness or inability to meet obligations

• A susceptibility to financial pressure, coercion, or exploitation

• A disregard for laws or rules (especially in cases involving unpaid taxes, judgments, or liens)

Security clearance adjudicators don’t just look at how much debt you have. They focus on why the debt exists, what you’re doing about it, and whether it reflects on your trustworthiness and reliability.

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Real-World Hypotheticals – Could This Be You?

• Scenario 1: A military contractor has $90,000 in credit card debt after a divorce and missed several payments—triggering a Statement of Reasons under Guideline F.

• Scenario 2: A federal employee forgot to file taxes for two years and now owes the IRS $15,000.

• Scenario 3: A naturalized citizen defaulted on a student loan while sending money home to support family abroad.

• Scenario 4: A service member filed for bankruptcy after a failed business venture—but has since built strong credit and savings.

• Scenario 5: A government applicant co-signed a car loan that went into default and showed up on their credit report during the background check.

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What the Government Looks For

Adjudicators evaluate:

• The frequency and amount of debt

• Causes of the financial trouble (e.g., divorce, illness, job loss vs. reckless spending)

• Whether you’ve made a good-faith effort to resolve or repay your debts

• Whether the debts have been disclosed honestly

• Current financial responsibility and changes in behavior

• Whether you’ve taken steps to avoid future problems

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Mitigating Factors – How You Can Still Keep Your Clearance

✅ The debt was caused by unforeseen circumstances (e.g., medical issues, job loss, pandemic-related disruption)
✅ You’ve initiated a repayment plan, consolidation, or settlement
✅ You’ve sought credit counseling or financial education
✅ The behavior occurred in the past and is unlikely to recur
✅ You’ve shown responsible financial behavior since
✅ You self-reported the issue and have been transparent

The government doesn’t expect perfection. They expect responsibility, maturity, and a plan.

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How National Security Law Firm Can Help

Guideline F is one of the most common causes of clearance denials—but also one of the most winnable, especially when the situation is explained correctly and mitigation is presented early.

Here’s how we help:

✅ Review your SF-86 for accurate and strategic financial disclosures
✅ Respond to LOIs and SORs with documentation, plans, and mitigation
✅ Represent you at DOHA hearings with expert legal and financial arguments
✅ Help you draft a personal statement explaining your situation and reform
✅ Partner with financial counselors and CPAs to strengthen your case
✅ Prove that you are not a risk and have taken control of your finances

We’ve helped clients recover clearances with everything from bankruptcies to IRS liens. We know what works—and how to present it.

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Flat Fee Security Clearance Pricing

• SF-86 Review: $950

• LOI Response: $3,500

• SOR Response: $5,000 (includes $3,000 LOI credit)

• DOHA Hearing: $7,500 (includes travel)

💳 Legal financing options available
Apply for 3 to 24-month installment plans with Affirm financing »

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FAQ – Financial Problems & Security Clearances

Is bankruptcy a clearance killer?
No. Bankruptcy alone doesn’t disqualify you—especially if it was used responsibly to resolve unmanageable debt. Many clients have kept their clearance after filing.

Do I have to be debt-free to qualify for a clearance?
Not at all. The key is whether you are managing your obligations responsibly, even if you carry balances.

What if I forgot to report debt on my SF-86?
You should correct it immediately. Honest oversight can be mitigated. Intentional omissions, however, raise Guideline E issues (Personal Conduct) in addition to Guideline F.

Can I still apply if I have tax debt?
Yes—but you need a plan. The government wants to see that you’ve acknowledged the debt and are actively working toward resolution (installment agreements, offers in compromise, etc.).

What if I’m helping support family overseas and that affects my finances?
This can trigger both Guideline F and Guideline B (Foreign Influence) issues. We’ll help you handle them both with sensitivity and strategy.

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🔍 Want the Full Playbook?

Don’t leave your clearance to chance. Click here to visit our Security Clearance Strategy Center — your go-to resource for:

• Proven strategies to win your case
• A complete cost breakdown
• Tips to avoid common clearance-killing mistakes
• Secrets to maximizing your chances of approval
• Answers to “What if I already got denied?”

👉 You’ve got questions. We’ve got insider answers.

🛡️ Why Choose NSLF?

At National Security Law Firm, we’re not your average clearance attorneys—we’re the elite unit for national security representation:

• Every case is reviewed by our internal attorney board
• Staffed by former DOHA attorneys, Security Threat Assessment experts, and military lawyers
• Located in Washington, D.C. — where clearance decisions are made
• We’re insiders who’ve worked behind the curtain—now we fight for you
• Founded by and staffed with disabled veterans
• One of the fastest-growing national security law firms in the U.S.

💵 Transparent, Flat-Fee Pricing

No surprise bills. No hourly rates. Just mission-focused pricing.

• SF-86 Review: $950 flat fee
• Letter of Interrogatory (LOI) Response: $3,500 flat fee
  This covers everything you need to respond and start defending your clearance.
• Statement of Reasons (SOR): $5,000 flat fee
  Already paid for your LOI response? You’ll get a $3,000 credit applied here.
• Hearing Representation: $7,500 flat fee (includes all travel)
  One fee covers it all—prep, travel, hearing. No hidden costs.

💳 Flexible Legal Financing Available

Worried about cost? Don’t be. We offer financing through Pay Later by Affirm — break payments into 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.

• No credit impact for checking eligibility
• We get paid up front. You pay over time.
• Keep your cash flow. Get the legal help now.

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Our success is measured in saved careers, restored clearances, and lives back on track.

⚠️ Don’t Wait. The Clock Is Ticking.

The sooner you call, the stronger your defense.

• Your defense starts with a free consultation
• We represent clients nationwide
• Legal help that’s quick, easy, and free to start
• You’ll speak with lawyers who understand the system inside and out
• Don’t risk your clearance—take control now

🪖 The National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.

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