Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00227/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00227-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:205 Denial Social Security Benefits

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GLEN EARL VIVIAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL 

SECURITY,

Defendant.

No. 2:16-cv-227-KJN

ORDER

Presently pending before the court is plaintiff’s motion for leave to proceed without the 

prepayment of fees and costs, also referred to as in forma pauperis, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 

1915.1 (ECF No. 2.) The affidavit in support of the motion indicates that plaintiff and his wife 

have a combined monthly income of approximately $3,679.00, i.e., $44,148.00 annually. 

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the poverty guideline 

for a household of 2 people not residing in Alaska or Hawaii is $16,020.00 for 2016. See

https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines. Thus, plaintiff’s gross household income is far in excess 

of 200% of the 2016 poverty guideline. 

 

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This case was referred to the undersigned pursuant to E.D. Cal. L.R. 302(c)(15).

 

Case 2:16-cv-00227-KJN Document 3 Filed 03/07/16 Page 1 of 2
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Presently, a filing fee of $400.00 is required to commence a civil action in this court. The 

court may authorize the commencement of an action “without prepayment of fees or security 

therefor” by a person that is unable to pay such fees or provide security therefor. 28 U.S.C. § 

1915(a)(1). Here, the court cannot find that plaintiff is unable to pay, or provide security for, the 

court filing fee. To be sure, the court is sympathetic to the fact that plaintiff does not have a large 

income by any measure, and that plaintiff also has several expenses to contend with. However, 

numerous litigants in this court have significant monthly expenditures, and may have to make 

difficult choices as to which expenses to incur, which expenses to reduce or eliminate, and how to 

apportion their income between such expenses and litigating an action in federal court. Such 

difficulties in themselves do not amount to indigency. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is denied.

2. Within 28 days of this order, plaintiff shall pay the applicable filing fee. However, the 

court will entertain a request for a reasonable extension of time to pay the fee should 

such an extension be necessary. 

3. Failure to timely pay the filing fee, or timely request an extension of time to do so,

may result in dismissal of the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

41(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 7, 2016

Case 2:16-cv-00227-KJN Document 3 Filed 03/07/16 Page 2 of 2