

The specific financial situations that the Diplomatic Security Service will look for, according to the U.S. What Financial Situations Affect Security Clearance? In light of this, certain potentially suspicious activities on your record, such as financial blemishes, may carry more weight than they once did.

However, it is evident that security clearance guidelines have toughened greatly in the last several years, attributed in part to individuals with security clearance who proved untrustworthy of national security. With so many factors in play, it is difficult to quantify exactly how much your finances affect your eligibility for security clearance. But just how much weight are your finances given when deciding whether or not you should be granted security clearance? Your finances are one of the 13 factors considered by the Diplomatic Security Service when reviewing your security clearance application. How Much Do Finances Affect Security Clearance? Deciding who receives access to matters of national security is, understandably, not a decision the DSS takes lightly, and financial status makes up a portion of the broad overall picture of one’s suitability for a security clearance. Ultimately, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) wants to ensure that individuals with security clearance privileges are highly trustworthy. These guidelines include evaluating your allegiance to the U.S., past criminal acts and indicators of future criminal conduct, and susceptibility to untoward foreign influence. The security clearance process takes into account not only your finances, but also many other aspects of your background, character, and current civilian conduct.įor context, as of 2017, the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines laid out a total of 13 criteria that an individual must meet in order to receive security clearance. However, if you decide to apply for security clearance, you should be prepared for a rigorous review of your application. When searching for a job in the IT industry, you have probably noticed that deciding to get a federal security clearance can benefit your career. We’ll also offer our best advice for obtaining security clearance-even if your financial circumstances are not ideal-and advancing your IT career. Let’s take a closer look at the many factors that can affect your security clearance application, including the influence of bad credit and other financial issues.

However, the dollar amount associated with your financial troubles is usually less important than the reasons behind your financial situation.īefore you start to consider your credit score an absolute bar to obtaining security clearance, you need to learn more about how bad credit fits into the bigger picture of the application process. In fact, financial issues comprise a large percentage of security clearance denials. Imperfect financial circumstances, such as bad credit scores, can have a negative influence on your application and potentially cause your security clearance to be denied. You may be concerned that you just don’t have the credit score for security clearance. If you want to do IT work for government agencies, you may have wondered, “Will bad credit affect security clearance?” When you apply for security clearance, your financial history and current standing are extensively reviewed, along with many other aspects of your life and personal history.
