Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-00171/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-00171-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 865
Nature of Suit: Social Security - RSI (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:0405 Review of HHS Decision

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

CENTRAL DIVISION

RAYMOND SMITH PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 4:23-CV-00171-BSM-JTK

KILOLO KIJAKAZI, DEFENDANT

Acting Commissioner 

Social Security

ORDER

Pending before the Court is Raymond Smith’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. 

(Doc. No. 1) After reviewing the application, the Court is without sufficient information to rule. 

Specifically, Mr. Smith states that his net pay is $1,400 per month, and he only lists two monthly 

expenses totaling $130. His complaint also states that he lives in a condo in Little Rock, Arkansas,

(Doc. No. 2) but his application indicates he is homeless. So, it is unclear whether he has to pay

any living and household expenses also.

The purpose of 28 U.S.C. § 1915 is to ensure that indigent litigants have an entre, not a 

barrier, to the federal courts. In re Williamson, 786 F.2d 1336, 1338 (8th Cir. 1986) (quoting 

Souder v. McGuire, 516 F.2d 820, 823 (3rd Cir. 1975)). Although a claimant need not be 

completely destitute to take advantage of the IFP statute, he or she must show that paying the filing 

fee would result in an undue financial hardship. Id.

Without any additional expenses, debts, or dependents, the Court calculates Mr. Smith’s 

monthly savings to be $1,270. On that basis, it appears that Mr. Smith has the financial ability to 

pay the filing fee for his social security case and that his current application does not demonstrate 

an undue financial burden. Therefore, he is instructed to amend his application and provide the 

Case 4:23-cv-00171-JTK Document 3 Filed 03/07/23 Page 1 of 2
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Court with clarity and/or additional information about his financial status within fourteen (14) days 

of the date of this Order.

SO ORDERED THIS 7th day of March, 2023.

____________________________________

JEROME T. KEARNEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 4:23-cv-00171-JTK Document 3 Filed 03/07/23 Page 2 of 2