Opinion
23-1224-DDC
01-10-2024
P.S.,[1] Plaintiff, v. MARTIN O'MALLEY, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Daniel D. Crabtree United States District Judge
Before the court is plaintiff's Application for Leave to File Action Without Payment of Fees, Costs, or Security (Doc. 4), docketed October 18, 2023. Plaintiff's Complaint asks the court to review “a determination that Plaintiff is not entitled to Supplemental Security Income” by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Doc. 1 at 1. Plaintiff's filing includes an Affidavit of Financial Status supporting plaintiff's request. Doc. 4 at 2-7.
Title 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1) authorizes the court to permit plaintiff to commence an action without prepayment of fees-i.e., to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP)-if certain conditions are satisfied. Although the statute speaks of incarcerated individuals, it “applies to all persons applying for IFP status, and not just to prisoners.” Lister v. Dep't of Treasury, 408 F.3d 1309, 1312 (10th Cir. 2005) (citations omitted).
Section 1915(a)(1) requires that plaintiff demonstrate an inability to afford the costs of litigation. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). The court has “wide discretion” to grant motions to proceed IFP. United States v. Garcia, 164 Fed.Appx. 785, 786 n.1 (10th Cir. 2006) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). But, the court may not rule such requests arbitrarily or erroneously. Id. Thus, “to succeed on a motion to proceed IFP,” a movant simply “must show a financial inability to pay the required filing fees, as well as the existence of a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument . . . in support of the issues raised in the action.” Lister, 408 F.3d at 1312 (citation omitted).
Exercising its discretion, the court finds that plaintiff has made this requisite showing. The motion asserts that plaintiff is “without means to pay the fees, costs or security to file” this suit. Doc. 4 at 1. And, the affidavit attached to the motion testifies that plaintiff is unemployed and has no financial assets. Doc. 4 at 3-7. Last, plaintiff's Complaint alleges “a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument . . . in support of the issues raised in the action.” Lister, 408 F.3d at 1312 (citation omitted). So, plaintiff has “show[n] a financial inability to pay the required filing fees” for facially legitimate allegations. Id.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT THAT plaintiff's Application for Leave to File Action Without Payment of Fees, Costs, or Security (Doc. 4) is granted. The Clerk is directed to notify the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas and the Social Security Administration's Office of General Counsel under D. Kan. R. 83.7.2(a)(2) and Fed.R.Civ.P. Supp. For Social Security Actions under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
IT IS SO ORDERED.