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. This information was updated on April 19, 2010.
| State |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
*4-Person |
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Alabama |
$38,278 |
$47,904 |
$55,433 |
$65,079 |
| Alaska |
$51,945 |
$73,809 |
$77,268 |
$85,118 |
| Arizona |
$42,476 |
$56,692 |
$61,845 |
$69,205 |
| Arkansas |
$33,412 |
$44,257 |
$48,548 |
$57,699 |
| California |
$47,969 |
$64,647 |
$70,638 |
$79,194 |
| Colorado |
$47,085 |
$64,754 |
$69,728 |
$81,354 |
| Connecticut |
$58,321 |
$72,328 |
$86,335 |
$101,761 |
| Delaware |
$46,249 |
$60,736 |
$69,826 |
$88,409 |
| District Of Columbia |
$42,120 |
$68,647 |
$69,047 |
$69,047 |
| Florida |
$41,079 |
$52,073 |
$58,366 |
$68,763 |
| Georgia |
$40,546 |
$55,061 |
$60,887 |
$68,258 |
| Hawaii |
$55,221 |
$66,960 |
$77,263 |
$91,158 |
| Idaho |
$39,484 |
$51,291 |
$52,577 |
$61,830 |
| Illinois |
$45,941 |
$59,838 |
$71,075 |
$81,175 |
| Indiana |
$40,683 |
$52,367 |
$59,438 |
$70,621 |
| Iowa |
$39,918 |
$55,087 |
$64,143 |
$72,701 |
| Kansas |
$41,210 |
$57,561 |
$63,212 |
$72,352 |
| Kentucky |
$37,450 |
$45,491 |
$54,488 |
$64,230 |
| Louisiana |
$37,331 |
$48,115 |
$53,271 |
$66,020 |
| Maine |
$38,674 |
$50,731 |
$61,855 |
$70,124 |
| Maryland |
$55,041 |
$72,801 |
$85,151 |
$101,441 |
| Massachusetts |
$53,315 |
$69,204 |
$82,297 |
$99,293 |
| Michigan |
$43,456 |
$52,433 |
$61,517 |
$74,558 |
| Minnesota |
$45,101 |
$62,162 |
$74,806 |
$86,329 |
| Mississippi |
$31,954 |
$42,606 |
$46,519 |
$58,310 |
| Missouri |
$39,504 |
$51,385 |
$60,156 |
$70,806 |
| Montana |
$39,979 |
$52,310 |
$58,427 |
$65,593 |
| Nebraska |
$40,208 |
$56,659 |
$63,475 |
$72,284 |
| Nevada |
$46,151 |
$60,234 |
$66,813 |
$70,851 |
| New Hampshire |
$51,332 |
$63,976 |
$79,385 |
$93,592 |
| New Jersey |
$59,812 |
$71,744 |
$85,764 |
$102,894 |
| New Mexico |
$36,642 |
$50,457 |
$50,457 |
$55,363 |
| New York |
$46,320 |
$57,902 |
$69,174 |
$82,164 |
| North Carolina |
$38,656 |
$52,008 |
$56,727 |
$67,056 |
| North Dakota |
$36,753 |
$54,468 |
$62,412 |
$74,873 |
| Ohio |
$41,724 |
$52,030 |
$61,552 |
$73,040 |
| Oklahoma |
$38,929 |
$50,710 |
$54,327 |
$61,816 |
| Oregon |
$42,344 |
$55,820 |
$62,608 |
$72,408 |
| Pennsylvania |
$44,396 |
$53,572 |
$67,516 |
$77,590 |
| Rhode Island |
$45,061 |
$62,583 |
$76,573 |
$86,692 |
| South Carolina |
$39,052 |
$51,191 |
$55,099 |
$65,421 |
| South Dakota |
$36,713 |
$54,138 |
$62,928 |
$69,932 |
| Tennessee |
$37,598 |
$48,935 |
$53,822 |
$63,999 |
| Texas |
$38,801 |
$55,660 |
$59,011 |
$66,145 |
| Utah |
$50,388 |
$56,729 |
$61,685 |
$69,741 |
| Vermont |
$41,593 |
$56,656 |
$65,094 |
$73,899 |
| Virginia |
$48,190 |
$64,890 |
$73,887 |
$85,633 |
| Washington |
$51,161 |
$63,930 |
$72,275 |
$82,422 |
| West Virginia |
$39,135 |
$43,070 |
$51,652 |
$58,271 |
| Wisconsin |
$42,205 |
$57,201 |
$67,881 |
$80,243 |
| Wyoming |
$44,004 |
$59,617 |
$65,586 |
$76,690 |
| Commonwealth or U.S. Territory |
Single-Earner |
2-Person |
3-Person |
*4-Person |
| * Add $7,500 for each individual in excess of 4. |
| Guam |
$35,891 |
$42,913 |
$48,902 |
$59,178 |
| Northern Mariana Islands |
$24,101 |
$24,101 |
$28,040 |
$41,242 |
| Puerto Rico |
$20,331 |
$20,311 |
$23,113 |
$27,434 |
| Virgin Islands |
$28,476 |
$34,225 |
$36,491 |
$39,980 |
Source: U.S. Trustee Program
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.
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.