The Chapter 7 Means Test & State Median Income Levels
Your Chapter 7 Eligibility
Everyone filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy must employ the Chapter 7 means test to determine whether they qualify for filing bankruptcy through Chapter 7.
The first part of the test concerns a person's income level as compared to other people in their particular state. If a person's income level is found to fall below their state's median income level, they "pass" the Chapter 7 means test and may be allowed to proceed with their Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.
If a person's income level is found to be above their state income level, they still may qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy if the bankruptcy court determines they have little "disposable" income.
While the means test is a bit complicated, a local bankruptcy attorney can help you determine your Chapter 7 eligibility according to the means test.
Let Chapter7.Me connect you with a local bankruptcy lawyer as soon as possible. All you have to do is fill out the below free form or call 888-632-0501 and we'll get to work connecting you with a nearby bankruptcy attorney.
State Median Income Levels
Below are the median state income numbers for each of the 50 states for the first part of the means test – the comparison of your income with the median income in your state. These figures are used for cases filed on or after November 1, 2011.
| State |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
*4-Person |
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Alabama |
$38,321 |
$46,025 |
$51,182 |
$61,593 |
| Alaska |
$52,611 |
$70,811 |
$77,200 |
$88,003 |
| Arizona |
$42,603 |
$55,404 |
$59,659 |
$67,113 |
| Arkansas |
$34,203 |
$44,048 |
$47,035 |
$56,275 |
| California |
$47,683 |
$61,539 |
$66,050 |
$74,806 |
| Colorado |
$47,361 |
$62,431 |
$69,252 |
$79,905 |
| Connecticut |
$56,773 |
$70,342 |
$80,263 |
$99,440 |
| Delaware |
$48,049 |
$59,927 |
$71,259 |
$79,829 |
| District Of Columbia |
$50,552 |
$78,313 |
$78,313 |
$115,995 |
| Florida |
$40,766 |
$49,729 |
$52,840 |
$62,742 |
| Georgia |
$39,694 |
$50,712 |
$55,711 |
$64,223 |
| Hawaii |
$51,099 |
$62,432 |
$75,900 |
$82,726 |
| Idaho |
$39,120 |
$49,242 |
$52,077 |
$61,301 |
| Illinois |
$45,545 |
$57,964 |
$66,758 |
$79,074 |
| Indiana |
$39,987 |
$49,669 |
$57,696 |
$67,296 |
| Iowa |
$40,650 |
$55,217 |
$62,251 |
$72,234 |
| Kansas |
$41,611 |
$55,801 |
$62,850 |
$72,665 |
| Kentucky |
$38,356 |
$44,696 |
$51,859 |
$62,583 |
| Louisiana |
$37,931 |
$46,169 |
$54,638 |
$65,778 |
| Maine |
$40,532 |
$51,738 |
$60,195 |
$74,738 |
| Maryland |
$57,445 |
$73,947 |
$84,151 |
$100,928 |
| Massachusetts |
$53,496 |
$64,174 |
$80,337 |
$99,067 |
| Michigan |
$43,677 |
$50,079 |
$58,467 |
$70,237 |
| Minnesota |
$46,161 |
$61,170 |
$71,784 |
$84,251 |
| Mississippi |
$33,126 |
$41,601 |
$45,536 |
$54,765 |
| Missouri |
$38,895 |
$50,603 |
$58,355 |
$67,255 |
| Montana |
$38,369 |
$49,743 |
$56,308 |
$68,313 |
| Nebraska |
$39,192 |
$55,519 |
$64,700 |
$71,247 |
| Nevada |
$43,146 |
$55,573 |
$60,855 |
$65,179 |
| New Hampshire |
$51,550 |
$61,679 |
$79,349 |
$91,750 |
| New Jersey |
$60,322 |
$67,503 |
$84,896 |
$101,957 |
| New Mexico |
$37,246 |
$49,515 |
$51,782 |
$54,640 |
| New York |
$45,931 |
$56,113 |
$66,953 |
$81,212 |
| North Carolina |
$37,892 |
$48,710 |
$54,310 |
$65,036 |
| North Dakota |
$42,953 |
$58,742 |
$67,244 |
$79,336 |
| Ohio |
$40,471 |
$50,253 |
$58,376 |
$70,599 |
| Oklahoma |
$37,466 |
$48,313 |
$53,332 |
$60,395 |
| Oregon |
$42,877 |
$52,316 |
$57,429 |
$66,616 |
| Pennsylvania |
$45,092 |
$53,091 |
$66,487 |
$76,682 |
| Rhode Island |
$46,335 |
$59,624 |
$66,800 |
$86,267 |
| South Carolina |
$37,660 |
$47,853 |
$50,824 |
$62,912 |
| South Dakota |
$36,799 |
$55,026 |
$61,612 |
$69,006 |
| Tennessee |
$37,967 |
$47,234 |
$51,642 |
$60,909 |
| Texas |
$39,673 |
$53,950 |
$57,825 |
$63,859 |
| Utah |
$48,176 |
$55,555 |
$59,626 |
$64,780 |
| Vermont |
$43,544 |
$55,110 |
$69,736 |
$77,296 |
| Virginia |
$50,605 |
$64,288 |
$71,644 |
$87,498 |
| Washington |
$51,671 |
$61,919 |
$69,195 |
$80,404 |
| West Virginia |
$40,887 |
$44,018 |
$50,987 |
$61,691 |
| Wisconsin |
$41,880 |
$55,671 |
$64,724 |
$76,117 |
| Wyoming |
$48,832 |
$62,072 |
$67,059 |
$73,362 |
| Commonwealth or U.S. Territory |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
*4-Person |
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Guam |
$36,480 |
$43,617 |
$49,704 |
$60,149 |
| Northern Mariana Islands |
$24,496 |
$24,496 |
$28,500 |
$41,918 |
| Puerto Rico |
$21,190 |
$21,190 |
$21,479 |
$27,838 |
| Virgin Islands |
$28,943 |
$34,786 |
$37,090 |
$40,636 |
Source: U.S. Trustee Program
Note: These figures are updated periodically by the United States Census Bureau. While we attempt to update this page to reflect the current median income amounts, we make no guarantee that the figures listed here are current.
Remember, if your income level exceeds your state's median income level, you may still qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. You simply have to move on to the next part of the means test, which calculates your disposable income and unsecured debts.
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Questions About the Chapter 7 Means Test?
If so, there's no need to worry. The means test can be a bit complicated, thus reinforcing the importance of working with a local bankruptcy lawyer who can crunch the numbers for you.
At Chapter7.Me, we can connect you to a local bankruptcy lawyer in no time. All you have to do is fill out our free bankruptcy case review form or call 888-632-0501 and we'll get to work connecting you with a nearby bankruptcy attorney who can look at your current financial situation and help you determine if you are eligible to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The above summary is not legal advice. Laws may have changed since our last update. For the latest information on bankruptcy laws, speak to a local bankruptcy lawyer in your state.