Legislation enacted by President George W. Bush in 2005 that revised the bankruptcy code for cases filed on or after
Essentially, the purpose of the act was to make it more difficult to qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy by more closely examining the filer’s ability to repay their debts. The means test compares the debtor’s monthly income to the median income in his or her state of residence and provides an allowance for assumed monthly expenses, at rates determined by the IRS, as well as an allowance for actual monthly expenses. If the individual exceeds the median income and has too much money left over after accounting for living expenses, he or she will usually not qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy.