Interactive tool · Means test, step 1
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Eligibility Estimator
Free tool to check if your income falls below your state median, the first hurdle in qualifying for Chapter 7 bankruptcy under the means test.
Where the median sits, nationally
Average state median household income by household size, the larger your household, the higher the income you can earn and still pass the median check.
How this works
Chapter 7 bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b) requires debtors to pass the means test. The test has two parts:
- Median income check (this tool): If your annual household income is below your state's median for your household size, you pass automatically and are presumed eligible.
- Disposable income check (next step): If you exceed the median, you must complete IRS Form 122A-2 to calculate disposable income after allowed expenses (housing, transportation, food, healthcare, etc.).
Median figures used here come from U.S. Census American Community Survey 2023 (Table B19013), the same baseline data the U.S. Trustee Program uses to set means test thresholds. Actual published figures are updated semiannually by the U.S. Trustee Program.
If you fail the median check
You may still qualify for Chapter 7 after the disposable-income calculation. Many filers above the median ultimately pass the full means test once allowed expenses are deducted. A bankruptcy attorney can run the full calculation in a free consultation. Alternatively, Chapter 13 (the wage-earner reorganization plan) is available regardless of income, see our Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 guide.
Source & methodology
Median household income figures from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 1-Year Estimates 2023, Table B19013. Means test framework from U.S. Trustee Program Means Testing. Always cross-check current published thresholds before filing, they update semiannually.
Every figure on PlainBankruptcy is rendered directly from federal court source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal court source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.