Opinion
Case No. 1:14-cv-01392-SAB
09-27-2014
BRENDA DARLENE WILSON, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.
ORDER DENYING APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS (ECF No. 7)
On September 4, 2014, Plaintiff Leigh Ann Grant ("Plaintiff") filed the complaint in this action seeking judicial review of the final decision of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security ("Defendant") denying Plaintiff's application for benefits under the Social Security Act. (ECF No. 1.) Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis without prepayment of the filing fee on the same day. (ECF No. 2.) The Court denied Plaintiff's application without prejudice on September 8, 2014, because the application provided by Plaintiff did not contain sufficient information for the Court to determine if she was entitled to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 6.) At the direction of the Court, on September 25, 2014, Plaintiff filed a long form application to proceed in forma pauperis. (ECF No. 7.)
In order to proceed in court without prepayment of the filing fee, Plaintiff must submit an affidavit demonstrating that she "is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(1). In assessing whether a certain income level meets the poverty threshold under Section 1915(a)(1), courts look to the federal poverty guidelines developed each year by the Department of Health and Human Services. See, e.g., Lint v. City of Boise, No. CV09-72-S- EJL, 2009 WL 1149442, at *2 (D. Idaho Apr. 28, 2009) (and cases cited therein).
Plaintiff's application includes information for herself and her spouse and states that no other person is dependent upon her for support. The 2014 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states for a household of two is $15,730.00. 2014 Poverty Guidelines, http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm (last visited August 12, 2014).
Plaintiff states that her husband receives $1,000.00 per month in Social Security benefits. In her initial application, Plaintiff stated that she receives $400.00 per month in food stamps. The current application does not include food stamps under public assistance as an income source, but Plaintiff does indicate that she spends $359.00 per month in food and food stamps is noted next to the entry. Crediting the $359.00 in food stamps as the amount received monthly, the annual income received by Plaintiff's household is $16,300.00.
Plaintiff has identified $1,180.50 per month in monthly expenses. This amounts to $14,166.00 in annual expenses. Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis demonstrates that Plaintiff is able to pay the $400.00 filing fee in this action as her reported annual income is significantly higher than her reported annual expenses. Moreover, Plaintiff's income is higher than the 2014 Poverty Guidelines.
Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds that Plaintiff is not eligible to proceed in in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED and Plaintiff shall pay the $400.00 filing fee within thirty (30) days. If the filing fee is not paid within thirty (30) days, this action will be dismissed. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: September 27, 2014
/s/_________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE