ORDER:

(1) GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS [DOC. 2]; AND

(2) REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO REIMBURSE THE FILING FEE AND ALL SERVICE COSTS FROM ANY RECOVERY OBTAINED IN THIS CASE

THOMAS J. WHELAN, District Judge.

Plaintiff Roy Mason filed this action on June 26, 2018 alleging violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, inter alia. (Compl. [Doc. 1].) He thereafter filed the pending motion to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP") under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (Pl.'s Mot. [Doc. 2].)

The Court decides the matter on the papers submitted. For the reasons outlined below, the Court GRANTS the IFP motion. [Doc. 2.]

I. LEGAL STANDARD

The determination of indigency falls within the district court's discretion. California Men's Colony v. Rowland, 939 F.2d 854, 858 (9th Cir. 1991), reversed on other grounds, 506 U.S. 194 (1993) ("Section 1915 typically requires the reviewing court to exercise its sound discretion in determining whether the affiant has satisfied the statute's requirement of indigency.").

It is well-settled that a party need not be completely destitute to proceed in forma pauperis. See Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948). To satisfy the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), "an affidavit [of poverty] is sufficient which states that one cannot because of his poverty pay or give security for costs . . . and still be able to provide himself and dependents with the necessities of life." Id. at 339 (internal quotations omitted). At the same time, however, "the same even-handed care must be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, . . . the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material part, to pull his own oar." Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F.Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984). "[T]he greater power to waive all fees includes the lesser power to set partial fees." Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109, 111 (9th Cir. 1995).

The facts as to the affiant's poverty must be stated "with some particularity, definiteness, and certainty." United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981). District courts tend to reject IFP applications where the applicant can pay the filing fee with acceptable sacrifice to other expenses. See, e.g., Allen v. Kelly, 1995 WL 396860 at *2 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (initially permitting Plaintiff to proceed in forma pauperis but later requiring him to pay $120 filing fee out of $900 settlement proceeds); Ali v. Cuyler, 547 F.Supp. 129, 130 (E.D. Pa. 1982) ("[P]laintiff possessed savings of $450 and the magistrate correctly determined that this amount was more than sufficient to allow the plaintiff to pay the filing fee in this action. . . ."). Permission to proceed IFP is "a matter of privilege and not right[,]" Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1231 (9th Cir. 1984), and "`in forma pauperis status may be acquired and lost during the course of litigation.'" Baize v. Lloyd, 2014 WL 6090324, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Nov. 13, 2014) (quoting Wilson v. Dir. of Div. of Adult Insts., 2009 WL 311150, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 9, 2009)).

II. DISCUSSION

Mason has satisfied his burden of demonstrating that he is entitled to IFP status. According to his declaration, his only income is $867 monthly in disability. (Pl.'s Mot. [Doc. 2] 2.) He owns no assets of value. (Id. [Doc. 2] 3.) His monthly expenses are $750 for rent or mortgage, $30 for utilities, $150 for food, $10 for clothing, and $40 for laundry and dry cleaning. (Id. [Doc. 2] 4.) He has no money in any financial institution. (Id. [Doc. 2] 2.)

The filing fee for an ordinary civil action is $400. Based on the foregoing, Mason has demonstrated that he lacks the means to pay the filing fee without sacrificing the necessities of life. See Adkins, 335 U.S. at 339-40. Accordingly, Mason demonstrates entitlement to IFP status. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915.

III. CONCLUSION & ORDER

For the reasons addressed above, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff's motion to proceed IFP. [Doc. 2.]

In light of the Court's ruling on the IFP motion, the Court orders as follows:

IT IS SO ORDERED.