Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00683/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00683-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Anita Marie Alvino
Plaintiff
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANITA MARIE ALVINO,

Plaintiff,

v.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN,

Acting Commissioner Of Social Security,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:16-cv-00683-LJO-SMS

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS

(Doc. 2) 

On May 13, 2016, Plaintiff Anita Marie Alvino, by her attorney, Vijay Patel, filed a motion

to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. 2. 

The Court “may authorize the commencement . . . of any suit . . . without prepayment of fees 

or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such 

[person] . . . possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(a). A plaintiff “need not be absolutely destitute to obtain benefits of the in forma 

pauperis statute. But a plaintiff seeking IFP status must allege poverty with some particularity, 

definiteness and certainty.” Escobedo v. Applebees, 787 F.3d 1226, 1234 (9th Cir. 2015) (quotations 

and citations omitted). 

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the 2016 poverty guideline for 

a two-person household is $16,020.

1

 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Poverty 

 

1

These poverty guidelines apply to those residing in the 48 contiguous states and the District of 

Columbia, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. 

Case 1:16-cv-00683-AWI-SMS Document 5 Filed 05/18/16 Page 1 of 2
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Guidelines, https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines (last visited February 26, 2016); Annual Update 

of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, 81 Fed. Reg. 4036 (January 25, 2016). In this case, Plaintiff 

reported that her husband, the sole provider, earns $2,400 per month. Plaintiff and her husband 

therefore receive an annual income of $28,800. Under a two-person household, Plaintiff’s income 

level is $12,780 above the poverty guideline. Additionally, Plaintiff has listed five categories of 

expenses (rent, gasoline, utilities, food, and miscellaneous) that total $1,562.00. Deducting the 

$1,562 from Plaintiff’s monthly income of $2,400 yields an excess of $838 per month. 

Consequently, at this time, the Court cannot find that Plaintiff’s financial status is that of an indigent. 

Accordingly, the Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis. Plaintiff 

shall either submit an amended and complete application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the 

filing fee to the Clerk of the Court within thirty (20) days of this order. If Plaintiff does not pay the 

filing fee or submit an amended application, the Court shall dismiss the case for lack of prosecution 

and failure to obey a Court order without further notice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 18, 2016 

 SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-00683-AWI-SMS Document 5 Filed 05/18/16 Page 2 of 2