Maine Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Maine Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Maine median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Maine Chapter 7 Six-Month Income Worksheet
Enter each of the six complete calendar months used for the current monthly income calculation. The worksheet totals the period, calculates the monthly average, and annualizes it. Nothing entered here is stored.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent | Six-Month Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $75,892 | $6,324 | $37,946 |
| 2 | $90,445 | $7,537 | $45,223 |
| 3 | $106,822 | $8,902 | $53,411 |
| 4 | $131,577 | $10,965 | $65,789 |
For households larger than four, add $11,100 per additional person to the annual figure. Use the official table in effect on the expected filing date.
A Maine Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Maine household received $6,783 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $40,698, the current monthly average would be $6,783, and the annualized income would be $81,396. That is $9,049 below the two-person Maine median shown on this page. This illustrates the first income comparison only. It does not decide the full means test or Chapter 7 eligibility.
How Maine Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Maine median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $75,892 for one person to $131,577 for four people, a difference of $55,685. A five-person Maine household would use $142,677 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A Maine Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $7,386 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $88,632. That is only $1,813 below the current two-person Maine median used here. A bonus, job change, unpaid leave, or a different filing month could change that comparison, which is why the six actual calendar months matter.
Where Location Inside Maine Can Matter
Maine is served by the District of Maine. The correct filing district depends on venue facts such as where a person has lived or kept a principal residence, assets, or business. Part 2 can also use location-sensitive housing and utility standards. Those allowances may differ by county inside Maine, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Maine |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Maine income threshold, including the added amount above four people. |
| Six-Month Income | Uses income received in the six complete calendar months before filing, not simply current salary. |
| County | Can affect location-based housing and utility allowances used in Part 2. |
| Filing District | Determines the federal bankruptcy court that handles the case. |
Records To Gather For A Maine Review
- Pay statements and other income records for each of the six complete lookback months.
- Documents supporting household size and regular contributions from other household members.
- Housing, utility, vehicle, tax, insurance, child care, support, and secured-debt amounts that may matter in Part 2.
- The expected filing date and county, especially when the result is close to the median.
Official Resources: U.S. Trustee Means-Testing Data · IRS Local Housing And Utility Standards · U.S. Courts Court Locator
The Two Parts Of The Maine Means Test
Part 1 in Maine is the income screen above: your annualized income against the Maine median for your household size. Clear it and you generally qualify. If your Maine income is higher, Part 2 deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support on Form 122A-2, and a large share of Maine filers pass there. Social Security generally does not count. Our national means test guide covers Part 2 in detail.
Over The Maine Median Is Not A Dead End
A Maine income above the median just means Part 2 decides it. After the allowed Maine living-expense deductions, a real share of filers qualify anyway. And if Chapter 7 is not right for you, settlement or Chapter 13 can each solve the problem in a different way.
Other Ways Out Of Debt In Maine
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Maine households resolve their debt through settlement or a management plan instead of a filing, each with its own trade-offs on cost, credit, and time. It is worth seeing which fits before you decide. You can check available debt relief options at no cost and with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Maine?
It is the Maine median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $75,892 for 1 person, $90,445 for 2, $106,822 for 3, and $131,577 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Maine figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Maine median?
Being above the Maine median does not automatically disqualify you. Part 2 of the means test subtracts allowed living expenses, and many above-median Maine filers still qualify for Chapter 7 after those deductions.
Does this calculator run the full Maine means test?
It covers Part 1 only, the income comparison against the Maine median. Part 2 deductions on Form 122A-2 are not calculated here, so use this as a first read and confirm with a Maine bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the Maine means test?
Social Security benefits are generally excluded from current monthly income for the means test, though most other income is included. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm what counts in your specific situation.
Official Source
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
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