Does this calculator perform the Chapter 13 means test?

No. The means test uses your average income over the 6 months before filing and compares it to your state median income to determine plan length. Form 122C-2 then calculates disposable income using IRS expense standards. Both forms must be completed with your bankruptcy attorney.

What are the 3 Chapter 13 plan confirmation requirements?

The three requirements are: (1) Feasibility test — your income must cover the required monthly payment; (2) Best interest test — unsecured creditors must receive at least as much as in a Chapter 7 liquidation; (3) Disposable income test — all projected disposable income above allowed expenses must go into the plan. This calculator only estimates the feasibility test.

Should I rely on this calculator before filing for bankruptcy?

No. Use this as a preparation tool only. Bankruptcy is a complex legal process. Take your scenario to a licensed bankruptcy attorney who can run the actual means test, analyze your full financial picture, and advise on the best course of action.

⚖️ Debt & Bankruptcy calculator

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Calculator

Estimate whether a Chapter 13 repayment plan fits your budget by comparing monthly disposable income against a projected plan payment. Enter household income, living expenses, and the debts going into the plan — the calculator returns a feasibility gauge, budget margin, and full step-by-step breakdown.

Enter your Chapter 13 scenario

Add monthly income and expenses to find disposable income, then add plan debts to see if the budget covers the estimated payment.

⚡ Quick preset

🟢 Monthly budget

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Monthly household income ($)

Gross monthly from all sources

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Monthly living expenses ($)

Rent, food, utilities, transport, etc.

🟡 Debts in plan

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Secured arrears ($)

Mortgage or auto past-due to cure

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Priority debt ($)

Taxes, child support, alimony arrears

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Attorney fees in plan ($)

Legal fees paid through trustee

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Unsecured debt in plan ($)

Credit cards, medical bills paid via plan

🔵 Plan parameters

Trustee fee (%)

Typically 8–10%; varies by district

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Plan term

36 (below median) or 60 (above median)

Feasibility Estimate

Enter your income, expenses, and plan debts above, then click Calculate.

Estimated monthly plan payment

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Monthly budget breakdown

Disposable income

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income − expenses

Plan payment

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per month

Budget margin

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after plan

Key metrics

Monthly income

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Monthly expenses

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Plan base total

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Total plan paid

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What this means

Enter your details above and click Calculate.

What to do next

📋

Chapter 13 Payment Calculator Focus on plan composition only — see the detailed waterfall of arrears, priority, fees, and trustee costs, plus the 36 vs 60 month comparison.

→

Want to understand Chapter 13 calculations?

📖

Finance Guides — Debt & Bankruptcy Browse our finance guides covering debt payoff strategies, interest calculations, and financial planning concepts.

Browse guides →

Step-by-step

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No calculation yet — enter your scenario above and click Calculate.

Tips & important notes

Tip: Use this calculator to stress-test your scenario — try your tightest and most realistic expense figures. If disposable income barely covers the plan payment, discuss that with your attorney before filing.

This calculator vs the Payment Calculator: The Bankruptcy Calculator (this tool) checks whether your income and expenses can support the plan. The Payment Calculator focuses on plan composition detail. Use both for a fuller picture.

This is a simplified planning estimate only. Real Chapter 13 feasibility depends on means testing, IRS national and local expense standards, disposable income forms (122C-1 and 122C-2), secured claim treatment, district-specific rules, and court confirmation. Always consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney.

What this calculator does

The Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Calculator performs a simplified feasibility check by combining two calculations. First, it computes your monthly disposable income (income minus expenses). Second, it estimates the monthly plan payment from your debt composition and trustee fee. It then compares the two to estimate your budget margin and feasibility.

The budget gauge visually shows how much of your disposable income the plan payment consumes — making it easy to spot whether the scenario is tight, feasible, or over budget at a glance. A positive margin means disposable income covers the plan payment. A negative margin is a budget shortfall on this simplified model.

The 3 Chapter 13 plan confirmation requirements

For a Chapter 13 plan to be confirmed by the court, it must satisfy all three of these requirements simultaneously. This calculator only checks a simplified version of Requirement 1.

1Feasibility test

The plan must be feasible — meaning your disposable income must cover the required monthly payment over the plan term. If income does not cover secured, priority, and attorney payments, the plan cannot be confirmed. This calculator estimates this requirement.

2Best interest test

Unsecured creditors must receive at least as much as they would have gotten in a Chapter 7 liquidation. If you have non-exempt assets, their value sets a minimum for what unsecured creditors must receive through the plan. Not modeled in this calculator.

3Disposable income test

If your income exceeds your state's median, all projected disposable income over the plan term must go into the plan. The IRS national and local expense standards determine what counts as an "allowed" expense — not your actual spending. Not modeled — requires Form 122C-2.

Simplified Chapter 13 feasibility formula

Disposable Income = Monthly Income − Monthly Expenses

Plan Base = Secured Arrears + Priority Debt + Attorney Fees + Unsecured in Plan

Monthly Payment = (Plan Base × (1 + Trustee %)) ÷ Plan Months

Budget Margin = Disposable Income − Monthly Payment
Positive = income covers plan (feasible on this model)
Negative = budget shortfall (plan may not be supportable)

Example calculations

Default — $6,200 income, $4,200 expenses, 60 months
Disposable income = $6,200 − $4,200 = $2,000/mo
Plan base = $10,000 + $7,000 + $3,500 + $5,000 = $25,500
Trustee (10%) = $2,550 · Total plan = $28,050
Monthly payment = $28,050 ÷ 60 = $467.50/mo
Budget margin = $2,000 − $467.50 = +$1,532.50 ✓ Feasible

Tight budget — $4,800 income, $3,900 expenses, 60 months
Disposable income = $4,800 − $3,900 = $900/mo
Plan base = $9,000 + $5,000 + $3,500 + $4,000 = $21,500
Trustee (10%) = $2,150 · Total plan = $23,650
Monthly payment = $23,650 ÷ 60 = $394.17/mo
Budget margin = $900 − $394.17 = +$505.83 — Tight but feasible

Heavy debt — $7,000 income, $4,700 expenses, 60 months
Disposable income = $7,000 − $4,700 = $2,300/mo
Plan base = $22,000 + $12,000 + $4,500 + $9,000 = $47,500
Trustee (10%) = $4,750 · Total plan = $52,250
Monthly payment = $52,250 ÷ 60 = $870.83/mo
Budget margin = $2,300 − $870.83 = +$1,429.17 — Feasible but large plan

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between this calculator and the Chapter 13 Payment Calculator?

The Payment Calculator focuses on plan composition — it shows how arrears, priority, fees, and trustee costs build up and compares 36 vs 60 month payments. This Bankruptcy Calculator adds income and expenses to check whether your budget can actually support the plan payment. Use both together for a fuller picture.

What is disposable income in Chapter 13?

Disposable income is the amount left after subtracting allowed monthly expenses from gross monthly income. In a real case, "allowed expenses" are defined by IRS national and local standards, not your actual spending. This calculator uses your entered expenses as a simplified proxy — actual disposable income for your plan requires Form 122C-2.

What does a positive budget margin mean?

A positive margin means your estimated disposable income exceeds the projected monthly plan payment on this simplified model. It is a rough indicator of feasibility — not confirmation that the court will approve your plan. A negative margin suggests the plan may not be supportable from your stated income and expenses.

Does this calculator pass the Chapter 13 means test?

No. This calculator does not perform the means test. The official means test (Form 122C-1) uses your average income over the 6 months before filing and compares it to your state's median income to determine your plan length. Form 122C-2 then calculates disposable income using IRS expense standards. Both forms must be completed with your bankruptcy attorney.

Why are income and expenses included in this version?

Because Chapter 13 feasibility starts with whether your monthly budget can support the plan payment — not just the size of the debt. The court requires that you prove you can fund the plan each month over 3–5 years. This calculator lets you check that fit before talking to an attorney.

Should I rely on this before filing for bankruptcy?

No. Use this as a preparation tool only. Bankruptcy is a complex legal process governed by federal law and local district rules. Take your scenario to a licensed bankruptcy attorney who can analyze your full financial picture, run the actual means test, and advise on the best course of action.

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Disclaimer

This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only and does not provide legal, financial, or bankruptcy advice. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a complex legal process requiring court approval. Actual feasibility depends on means testing, IRS expense standards, secured claim treatment, the best interest of creditors test, disposable income schedules, local district rules, and many other factors not modeled here. Always consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney before making any decisions related to filing bankruptcy.