The means test determines whether your disposable income is low enough for you to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It was designed to make sure that only people who are truly unable to pay their debts actually file. In other words, if your income exceeds median annual income for other California families, then you need to pass the means test, which first determines how much disposable income you have after expenses, and then determines whether or not you can pay off your debts.nnBefore you take the means test, your annual income will be checked against the median annual income for families of your size in your state. If your income is lower, then you automatically pass and you, therefore, qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If not, then you will be required to pass the means test.nnYour income must be lower than the median in California for a household your size in order for you pass the test. If your income is too high, you can only file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, in which you have to make monthly payments over a three-to-five year period.