Eric Pemper Founder, CuraDebt · Est. 2001
New Jersey Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The New Jersey Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the New Jersey median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures Effective April 1, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
New Jersey 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 | $87,173 | $7,264 | $43,587 |
| 2 | $106,876 | $8,906 | $53,438 |
| 3 | $137,136 | $11,428 | $68,568 |
| 4 | $168,127 | $14,011 | $84,064 |
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 New Jersey Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person New Jersey household received $8,016 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $48,096, the current monthly average would be $8,016, and the annualized income would be $96,192. That is $10,684 below the two-person New Jersey 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 New Jersey Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the New Jersey median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $87,173 for one person to $168,127 for four people, a difference of $80,954. A five-person New Jersey household would use $179,227 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A New Jersey Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $8,728 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $104,736. That is only $2,140 below the current two-person New Jersey 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 New Jersey Can Matter
New Jersey is served by the District of New Jersey. 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 New Jersey, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey Means Test
Part 1 in New Jersey is the income screen above: your annualized income against the New Jersey median for your household size. Clear it and you generally qualify. If your New Jersey income is higher, Part 2 deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support on Form 122A-2, and a large share of New Jersey filers pass there. Social Security generally does not count. Our national means test guide covers Part 2 in detail.
If You Are Above The New Jersey Median
Being above the New Jersey median does not end it. Part 2 subtracts allowed expenses, and many above-median New Jersey filers still pass. If Chapter 7 does not fit, Chapter 13, debt settlement, or a debt management plan might. Bankruptcy is a lasting decision, so compare the options first.
Other Ways Out Of Debt In New Jersey
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many New Jersey 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. There is no cost to check available options, and there is no obligation to continue. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in New Jersey?
It is the New Jersey median family income for your household size. Effective April 1, 2026, it is $84,938 for 1 person, $104,136 for 2, $133,620 for 3, and $163,817 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that New Jersey figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the New Jersey median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the New Jersey median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and plenty of New Jersey filers pass there.
Does this calculator run the full New Jersey means test?
It covers Part 1 only, the income comparison against the New Jersey median. Part 2 deductions on Form 122A-2 are not calculated here, so use this as a first read and confirm with a New Jersey bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the New Jersey 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.
Does CuraDebt give legal advice or file bankruptcy in New Jersey, and is it a law firm?
There is no cost to check available options, and there is no obligation to continue. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
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