WUS Debt Wire

Chapter 7 Means Test Estimator

Chapter 7 means test — first pass

Step 1 of the means test compares your household's average gross income over the last 6 months, annualized, against the median income for a household of your size in your state. This tool does that comparison — it does not embed the median-income table itself, since it changes over time. Look up your number from the official table first.

  1. Open the U.S. Trustee Program's current median family income table (opens in a new tab):justice.gov/ust — Means Testing Informationand find the figure for your state and household size.
  2. Enter that figure, and your own household's annualized income, below.

Passing this first step means you can generally proceed with Chapter 7. Being over the median doesn't disqualify you — it means a second, more detailed calculation (IRS allowable-expense standards) applies, which this tool doesn't yet cover. Not legal advice; a bankruptcy attorney can run the full calculation.