Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02086/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02086-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:0402 Social Security Benefits

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3:18-cv-2086-GPC-MDD 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JESSICA RACHEL GUZIKAUSKAS, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting 

Commissioner of Social Security, 

Defendant.

 Case No.: 3:18-cv-2086-GPC-MDD 

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION 

TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS AND REFERRING 

MATTER TO MAGISTRATE 

JUDGE 

[ECF No. 2] 

 Plaintiff, Jessica Rachel Guzikauskas, with counsel, has filed a complaint 

requesting judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision denying Plaintiff’s claims for 

disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income under Title II & XVI of 

the Social Security Act. Compl., ECF No. 1. Plaintiff did not prepay the civil filing fee 

required by 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) at the time of the filing, but instead filed an Application 

to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Pl.’s Application, 

ECF No. 2. For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s application to 

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proceed IFP. 

 All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the 

United States, except an application for writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee of 

$400. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed despite a plaintiff’s failure to 

prepay the entire fee only if he or she is granted leave to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Andrews v. Cervantes, 493 F.3d 1047, 1051 (9th Cir. 2007); 

Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). A court may authorize the 

commencement of a suit without prepayment of fees if the plaintiff submits an affidavit, 

including a statement of all of his or her assets, showing that he or she is unable to pay 

the fees. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Such an affidavit must include a complete statement 

of the plaintiff’s assets. See id. 

 Here, Plaintiff submitted a declaration reporting that her total monthly income is 

$910.00, coming solely from Social Security disability payments. Pl.’s Application, ECF 

No. 2 at 1-2. She has $200.00 in a checking account and owns a car worth $300.00. Id.

at 2-3. On the other hand, her monthly expenses total $1,045.00. Id. at 4-5. Plaintiff 

indicates that she will pay counsel on a contingency fee basis. Id. at 5. 

Plaintiff has sufficiently demonstrated that she is unable to pay the required filing 

fee and that he meets the requirements to proceed IFP. Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed 

in Forma Pauperis is therefore GRANTED. 

All matters arising in the above-captioned social security appeal are hereby 

referred to the Honorable Mitchell D. Dembin, United States Magistrate Judge, for report 

and recommendation pursuant to section 636(b)(1)(B) of Title 28 of the United States 

Code and Civil Local Rule 72.1. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B); S.D. Cal. Civ. R. 72.1. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

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3:18-cv-2086-GPC-MDD 

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Dated: September 10, 2018 

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