{"id":5589,"date":"2012-11-06T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T09:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/?p=5589"},"modified":"2026-06-09T13:18:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T17:18:39","slug":"household-size-determined-for-the-means-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/staging\/8350\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\/","title":{"rendered":"How is the Household Size Determined for the Means Test?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/04-rebuilding-after-bankruptcy.webp\" alt=\"04-rebuilding-after-bankruptcy\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>If you are thinking about filing bankruptcy in North Carolina, you may have heard about something called the Means Test. And you may be wondering how your family fits into it. Who counts as part of your household? Does your adult child count? What about a roommate or an older relative who lives with you?<\/p>\n<p>These questions matter more than most people realize. Your household size can be the difference between qualifying for Chapter 7 and having to file Chapter 13 instead. This post explains how household size is figured out for the Means Test, in plain English.<\/p>\n<h2>The Short Answer<\/h2>\n<p>Your household size is the number of people who share your finances. This usually means you, your spouse, and anyone who depends on your income or helps pay the bills. It is not always just &quot;mom, dad, and kids.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>In North Carolina, courts in many areas use what is called the &quot;economic unit&quot; approach. That means they look at who shares money and expenses with you, not just who sleeps under your roof. A larger household often raises the income limit you are compared against, which can help you qualify for Chapter 7.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Means Test, and Why Does Household Size Matter?<\/h2>\n<p>The Means Test is a math formula. Its main job is to figure out if you can file <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/chapter-7-bankruptcy\/\">Chapter 7 bankruptcy<\/a> or if you need to file <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/chapter-13-bankruptcy\/\">Chapter 13 bankruptcy<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n<p>Here is how it works at a basic level:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The test compares your income to the median income for a household your size in North Carolina.<\/li>\n<li>If your income is below the median, you usually pass the test and can file Chapter 7.<\/li>\n<li>If your income is above the median, you go through more steps to see how much money you have left after allowed expenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The median income limit changes based on how many people are in your household. A bigger household means a higher income limit. So household size can make a real difference.<\/p>\n<p>There is a catch, though. Adding a person who earns money can also add their income to the picture. So a bigger household helps in some cases and hurts in others. That is why getting it right matters so much.<\/p>\n<h2>Who Counts as Part of Your Household?<\/h2>\n<p>This is where people get confused. A &quot;household&quot; is not always the same as a family.<\/p>\n<p>Courts look at who is part of your financial life. The key question is usually this: <strong>Does this person share income and expenses with you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let&#39;s look at some common situations.<\/p>\n<h3>Your Minor Children<\/h3>\n<p>A child who lives with you and depends on you almost always counts. For example, your 13-year-old daughter is part of your household and a dependent. This is the simple case.<\/p>\n<h3>Adult Children Living at Home<\/h3>\n<p>This is trickier. Say you have an 18-year-old who still lives at home but works and pays their own bills. The court may argue that this adult child is no longer a true dependent.<\/p>\n<p>That does not mean they automatically count or don&#39;t count. If they are part of your household, the court will likely want to see their income and their expenses. Their money could change your Means Test numbers.<\/p>\n<h3>Older Relatives Who Depend on You<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes a parent or other relative lives with you and brings in no income at all. If you support them, they may count as part of your household. This can raise your income limit and help you qualify for Chapter 7.<\/p>\n<h3>Roommates<\/h3>\n<p>A roommate is different. If someone just shares the rent and pays toward expenses but lives their own separate financial life, they may not be part of your household for the Means Test.<\/p>\n<p>The situation changes if you and that person live together as a family unit and share your finances. Then they may count. This is something to talk through carefully with your attorney.<\/p>\n<h2>How North Carolina Courts View Household Size<\/h2>\n<p>North Carolina courts often use what is called the <strong>&quot;economic unit&quot; approach<\/strong>. This is the standard used in the Middle District of North Carolina, which covers areas like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and Salisbury.<\/p>\n<p>Under this approach, your household includes people who are <strong>financially tied to you<\/strong>. That means people who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contribute income to your home, or<\/li>\n<li>Depend on your income for support, or<\/li>\n<li>Share in your household expenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is different from two other methods that some courts use:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Approach<\/th>\n<th>How It Counts People<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Economic unit (used in much of NC)<\/td>\n<td>Counts people who share or depend on household finances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>&quot;Heads on beds&quot;<\/td>\n<td>Counts everyone living in the home, no matter their money ties<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>IRS method<\/td>\n<td>Follows the IRS rules for who counts as a household member<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The economic unit approach can work in your favor. It may let you include a financially dependent relative who lives with you. That can raise your income limit and move you from &quot;above median&quot; to &quot;below median.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Why does that matter? Below-median filers often qualify for Chapter 7. And in Chapter 13, below-median filers may finish their plan in three years instead of five. That is a big difference.<\/p>\n<p>When your income is close to the median line, household size becomes very important. A careful review can change the outcome of your whole case.<\/p>\n<h2>A Quick Note on the IRS Standards<\/h2>\n<p>The Means Test also uses IRS expense standards to figure out your allowed expenses. These standards change every year. If you read any specific dollar amount online, check whether it is still current. You can find the latest figures at irs.gov. Your attorney will use the correct numbers for your filing.<\/p>\n<h2>How Household Size Plays Out in Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13<\/h2>\n<p>Your household size matters in both chapters, but in slightly different ways. Here is a simple comparison.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Issue<\/th>\n<th>Chapter 7<\/th>\n<th>Chapter 13<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Main role of the Means Test<\/td>\n<td>Decides if you qualify to file<\/td>\n<td>Helps set how much you pay back and for how long<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Effect of a larger household<\/td>\n<td>Raises your income limit, which can help you qualify<\/td>\n<td>Can lower your required monthly payment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Below-median benefit<\/td>\n<td>Usually qualifies you to file<\/td>\n<td>Plan may last three years instead of five<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Above-median result<\/td>\n<td>May push you into Chapter 13<\/td>\n<td>Plan usually lasts five years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If you are not sure which chapter fits your life, our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/chapter-7-vs-chapter-13\/\">Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13<\/a> breaks it down in more detail.<\/p>\n<h2>What Should You Do Next?<\/h2>\n<p>You do not need to figure all of this out by yourself. But there are a few simple things you can do to get ready.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Make a list of everyone living in your home.<\/strong> Write down their ages and their relationship to you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Note who brings in income.<\/strong> Include wages, benefits, and any other money.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write down who pays which bills.<\/strong> This does not need to be fancy. A simple sheet of paper works fine. The goal is to see how the bills get paid and whose money pays them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flag the tricky cases.<\/strong> Adult children, older relatives, and roommates often need a closer look.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Talk to a bankruptcy attorney.<\/strong> A good attorney can review your living situation and count your household the right way.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you are not sure whether bankruptcy is the right step at all, our page on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/do-i-need-bankruptcy\/\">whether you need bankruptcy<\/a> may help you think it through.<\/p>\n<h2>Talk to Duncan Law About Your Situation<\/h2>\n<p>Counting your household size sounds simple, but it can get complicated fast. The wrong count could push you into the wrong chapter or cost you money you do not need to pay. The right count could help you qualify for Chapter 7 or lower your Chapter 13 payment.<\/p>\n<p>If you are dealing with debt in North Carolina, you do not have to sort this out alone. Duncan Law can review your living situation and help you decide whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 makes the most sense for you. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/book-with-damon\/\">schedule your free consultation<\/a> online or call the office closest to you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Greensboro: (336) 856-1234<\/li>\n<li>Charlotte: (704) 563-1224<\/li>\n<li>Winston-Salem: (336) 245-4294<\/li>\n<li>Asheville: (828) 348-5252<\/li>\n<li>High Point: (336) 294-5800<\/li>\n<li>Salisbury: (704) 297-4000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We serve clients in Greensboro, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville, High Point, Salisbury, and communities throughout North Carolina.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the Means Test in bankruptcy?<\/h3>\n<p>The Means Test is a math formula that compares your income to the median income in your state. It helps decide if you qualify for Chapter 7 or if you should file Chapter 13 instead.<\/p>\n<h3>Does a bigger household help me pass the Means Test?<\/h3>\n<p>Often, yes. A bigger household raises the income limit you are compared against. But if the extra person earns money, their income may also count. The result depends on your full situation.<\/p>\n<h3>Do my minor children count in my household size?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Children who live with you and depend on your income almost always count as part of your household.<\/p>\n<h3>Does my adult child who lives with me count?<\/h3>\n<p>It depends. If your adult child works and pays their own bills, the court may not count them as a dependent. If they are part of your household, you will likely need to list their income and expenses.<\/p>\n<h3>Does a roommate count in my household size?<\/h3>\n<p>Usually not, if the roommate just shares rent and lives a separate financial life. But if you live together as a family unit and share finances, they may count.<\/p>\n<h3>What if an older relative lives with me but earns no income?<\/h3>\n<p>If you support a relative who lives with you, they may count as part of your household. This can raise your income limit and may help you qualify for Chapter 7.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the &quot;economic unit&quot; approach?<\/h3>\n<p>It is the method many North Carolina courts use to count household size. It looks at who shares income and expenses with you, not just who lives in your home.<\/p>\n<h3>Why does household size change my Chapter 13 plan length?<\/h3>\n<p>Below-median filers may finish a Chapter 13 plan in three years. Above-median filers usually have a five-year plan. Household size can affect which group you fall into.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I include someone in my household but list them differently?<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes. A person may be part of your economic unit in some ways but treated differently for the Means Test. This is a detail your attorney can sort out for you.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I need an attorney to figure out my household size?<\/h3>\n<p>You are not required to have one, but it helps. Household size can change your whole case. An experienced bankruptcy attorney can count it correctly and protect your options.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the Means Test in bankruptcy?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The Means Test is a math formula that compares your income to the median income in your state. 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It looks at who shares income and expenses with you, not just who lives in your home.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Why does household size change my Chapter 13 plan length?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Below-median filers may finish a Chapter 13 plan in three years. Above-median filers usually have a five-year plan. Household size can affect which group you fall into.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can I include someone in my household but list them differently?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Sometimes. A person may be part of your economic unit in some ways but treated differently for the Means Test. 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The Means Test also tells us whether a Debtor would need to pay back some of their debts in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy if they do not \u201cpass.\u201d  Simply put, the Means Test determines the Debtor\u2019s monthly income by taking the Debtor\u2019s household\u2019s gross income and subtracting qualified deductions.  By doing this, we can decide whether the Debtor would need to be looking into filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4171,4165],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bankruptcy-basics","category-chapter-7-bankruptcy","post_format-post-format-video"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Household Size Is Determined for the Means Test<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how household size is determined for the bankruptcy Means Test in North Carolina and how it affects Chapter 7. Book a free consultation today.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How is the Household Size Determined for the Means Test?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The basic purpose of the Means Test is to determine whether a Debtor is eligible to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Along with other supporting requirements, the Means Test plays a major role in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Means Test also tells us whether a Debtor would need to pay back some of their debts in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy if they do not \u201cpass.\u201d Simply put, the Means Test determines the Debtor\u2019s monthly income by taking the Debtor\u2019s household\u2019s gross income and subtracting qualified deductions. By doing this, we can decide whether the Debtor would need to be looking into filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Duncan Law\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/duncanlawonline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-11-06T09:00:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-09T17:18:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.duncanlawonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/04-rebuilding-after-bankruptcy.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Damon Duncan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@DuncanLaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@DuncanLaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Damon Duncan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Damon Duncan\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/f7b4948225deab021c8ba0edbea00655\"},\"headline\":\"How is the Household Size Determined for the Means Test?\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-11-06T09:00:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-09T17:18:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1760,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/staging\\\/8350\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/04-rebuilding-after-bankruptcy.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Bankruptcy Basics\",\"Chapter 7 Bankruptcy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Household Size Is Determined for the Means Test\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/household-size-determined-for-the-means-test\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.duncanlawonline.com\\\/staging\\\/8350\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/04-rebuilding-after-bankruptcy.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-11-06T09:00:35+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-09T17:18:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how household size is determined for the bankruptcy Means Test in North Carolina and how it affects Chapter 7. 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