Security Clearance (SC) Q&A Read first before asking questions

[SussexSeagull]

You can state "Cleared to a high Government standard' on your CV but no more. Source.

Interestingly that is based on employers not insisting on prior clearance, which in my experience is very much not the case.

[malvolio]

To be entirely fair, it depends to whom you are disclosing the information. Someone who genuinely has a need to know, such as a potential client, there's no issue. However, extending that to an uncleared (usually) agency drone who doesn't have a need to know - on the official basis that you don't need clearance to apply for a role - is probably a breach.

Ditto all those nerks on LinkedIn who have "SC Cleared PM" on their profile. Tell them they haven't, since they are out of a job, and it has therefore lapsed immediately and you get shouted at...

Which doesn't answer the question, I accept, other than to say the question has no meaning. But in the real world, follow your conscience.

[Paralytic]

If someone tells an agent "Yes, I have clearance" then that's a breach. However, if someone tells an agent "No, I don't have that clearance", is that allowed?

I can't tell you that.

[hobnob]

any disclosure of clearance is a breach of the OSA

I've been wondering how far this goes. If someone tells an agent "Yes, I have clearance" then that's a breach. However, if someone tells an agent "No, I don't have that clearance", is that allowed?

On the face of it, that's not revealing anything confidential, and someone without clearance probably hasn't signed the OSA. However, I can imagine a conversation like this:
Agent: "Do you have DV clearance?"
Contractor: "No, I don't"
Agent: "How about SC clearance?"
Contractor: "I can't answer that question"

By implication, they're saying that they do have SC clearance, which would then be a breach. So, is it better for people who don't have the clearance to also say "I can't tell you that"?

[xar18]

If you got done for an settlement, it was as a result of an investigation. QED....

However it is unlikely to have any impact on your clearance, unless your potential client is deep into financial probity. So tell them is was an investigation that was settled by mutual agreement.

Thats great - thanks for the info. Will update my SC form accordingly.

[malvolio]

Hi all - I am currently completing the SC form for a new role, and wanted to ask about the HMRC investigation section. I was part of a scheme for circa 9 months (circa 2012), received the HMRC discovery/enquiry letters a few years back asking for settlement as per others, and fully settled within about 12 months with no further activity since then.

My query is whether this constitutes a formal 'HMRC investigation' that should be detailed on the SC form, or falls under general HMRC activity about taxes owed that doesn't need explicitly referenced.

Any pointers welcomed. Thanks

If you got done for an settlement, it was as a result of an investigation. QED....

However it is unlikely to have any impact on your clearance, unless your potential client is deep into financial probity. So tell them is was an investigation that was settled by mutual agreement.

[xar18]

Hi all - I am currently completing the SC form for a new role, and wanted to ask about the HMRC investigation section. I was part of a scheme for circa 9 months (circa 2012), received the HMRC discovery/enquiry letters a few years back asking for settlement as per others, and fully settled within about 12 months with no further activity since then.

My query is whether this constitutes a formal 'HMRC investigation' that should be detailed on the SC form, or falls under general HMRC activity about taxes owed that doesn't need explicitly referenced.

Any pointers welcomed. Thanks

[malvolio]

I am surprised how many individuals put there SC on their Linkedin profile? I was always under the impression that was in breach of the official secrets act.

From what I have read in the past you cannot even put it on your CV. Instead you are ok to put government clearance but not state which one, at best.

Unless they are all liars.

It is - any disclosure of clearance is a breach of the OSA, to the extent that, for example, MOD people are supposed to remove or conceal their name badges outside their workplace.

Many of the LinkedIn people will be with consultancies or other X-listed companies who are rather more cavalier about such things...

[mallisarealperson]

I am surprised how many individuals put there SC on their Linkedin profile? I was always under the impression that was in breach of the official secrets act.

From what I have read in the past you cannot even put it on your CV. Instead you are ok to put government clearance but not state which one, at best.

Unless they are all liars.

[northernladuk]

For those that care , I applied for SC on 21/01/21 for a government based project , my clearance arrived after 1 month for 10 years (surprisingly)

Others who applied at the same time or even before me are still waiting.

What we have heard is that the time it takes varies from 1 person to the next so that 'the perfect' answers cant be predicted.

Good feedback thanks and grats on the clearance. I do think you've been very lucky with the one month so I'm pretty surprised as well but in 10 years (since I had mine) you'd hope they've done something to speed it up