Source: http://ny.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180725_0000742.WNY.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 00:27:40+00:00

Document:
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, MONROE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant.
This is an action by Plaintiff to challenge an April 17, 2017, decision of the Social Security Administration's Appeals Council, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Court previously ordered Plaintiff to file an amended complaint within thirty days, and indicated that it would dismiss the action if he failed to do so. Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court's Order, and the action is therefore dismissed.
[I]t is not entirel1y clear what Plaintiff is complaining about with regard to the Appeals Council's April 17, 2017 decision. It appears, however, that Plaintiff is complaining that the Commissioner improperly found him eligible to receive both SSI and SSDI benefits, and/or that the Commissioner improperly processed his SSI back payment prior to any SSDI back payment, in order to facilitate recoupment of the interim assistance reimbursements by Monroe County. If that is what Plaintiff is maintaining, his claim lacks merit, since the Commissioner did nothing wrong. Indeed, Plaintiff applied for both SSI and SSDI benefits, and the Second Circuit has expressly held that the Commissioner's policy of processing SSI back payments before SSDI payments, in order to maximize reimbursements to states for interim assistance payments, is a proper exercise of the Commissioner's discretion and does not violate 42 U.S.C. § 407. White v. Bowen, 835 F.2d 974, 978-979 (2d Cir. 1987); see also, Guadamuz v. Bowen, 859 F.2d 762, 770 (9th Cir. 1988) (favorably discussing the Second Circuit's ruling in White v. Bowen).
Along with the amended complaint, Plaintiff shall file a new motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis; such new application shall include Plaintiff's monthly income from all sources, including any type of government benefits, as well as the monthly income of any members of Plaintiff's household (such application must be either typed or completed in clearly legible handwriting); the prior order [#5] granting Plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis is vacated inasmuch as it is now clear that the Court did not have accurate or sufficient information upon which to make the necessary inquiry under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) when it issued that order; In the event that Plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint and new application to proceed in forma pauperis within thirty (30) days of the date of this Decision and Order, the Clerk of the Court is directed to close this action without further order of the Court; and [in] the event that the action is dismissed due to Plaintiff's failure to file an amended complaint and new application to proceed in forma pauperis as ordered above, the Court hereby certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this Order would not be taken in good faith, and leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals as a poor person is denied. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438 (1962). Further requests to proceed on appeal as a poor person should be directed, on motion, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in accordance with Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Decision and Order [#14] filed December 12, 2017.
Plaintiff, who is an experienced pro se litigator, did not file an amended complaint but instead, filed an interlocutory appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Plaintiff filed that appeal on January 4, 2018, which was 22 days after this Court issued its Decision and Order [#14]. On May 17, 2018, the Second Circuit dismissed Plaintiff's appeal as lacking “an arguable basis in either law or in fact.” On July 9, 2018, the Mandate issued, and as of today's date fifteen more days have elapsed.

References: § 405
 § 407
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 § 1915
 § 1915
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