2026 median income limits for South Carolina by household size. Free calculator and filing guide.
The table below shows the approximate annual and monthly income thresholds for South Carolina by household size. If your annualized income (6-month average multiplied by 12) is at or below the figure for your household size, you pass Part 1 of the means test.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $61,050 | $5,088 |
| 2 persons | $79,365 | $6,614 |
| 3 persons | $92,796 | $7,733 |
| 4 persons | $108,058 | $9,005 |
| 5 persons | $119,158 | $9,930 |
| 6 people | $130,258 | $10,855 |
For each additional person above 4, add approximately $11,100 to the 4-person figure.
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South Carolina requires bankruptcy filers to use state-specific exemptions rather than the federal bankruptcy exemptions. This means the property you can protect in Chapter 7 is determined entirely by South Carolina state law. Understanding your state's homestead exemption, vehicle exemption, and wildcard exemption amounts is critical before filing.
1 district
South Carolina has one federal bankruptcy district. All bankruptcy cases in the state are filed in this single district court.
The single-person median income threshold in South Carolina is $61,050, which is near the national middle range. Filers whose income is close to this threshold should carefully average their last 6 calendar months of gross income. If one or two months had unusually high income (bonus, overtime, severance), waiting for those months to fall outside the 6-month window can change the result.
Numbers from the Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database covering 635 consumer bankruptcy cases filed in South Carolina federal bankruptcy courts. These are actual case outcomes - not estimates - and show what really happens after filing.
| Chapter | Cases Filed | Discharge Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 301 | Insufficient data | Insufficient data |
| Chapter 13 | 334 | Insufficient data | Insufficient data |
47.4% of consumer filings
52.6% of consumer filings
Consumer filings in South Carolina split 47.4% Chapter 7 and 52.6% Chapter 13, close to the national mix.
Discharge and dismissal rates are computed on resolved cases only; pending cases are excluded. Source: FJC Integrated Database.
There is no single income limit. The means test compares your annualized income (6-month average times 12) to the median income for your household size. For a single person in South Carolina, the current median is approximately $61,050 per year. For a family of four, it is approximately $108,058. If your income is below the median for your household size, you pass Part 1 of the means test.
South Carolina requires filers to use state exemptions only - the federal bankruptcy exemptions under 11 U.S.C. Section 522(d) are not available. Key exemptions to research include the homestead exemption, motor vehicle exemption, personal property exemption, and any wildcard exemption that may apply.
Failing Part 1 of the means test (having above-median income) does not disqualify you. You must then complete Part 2 (Form 122A-2), which deducts allowable expenses - including IRS standard amounts, actual secured debt payments, taxes, insurance, and child care. Many above-median filers pass Part 2. If you still do not pass, Chapter 13 is an alternative that allows debt repayment over 3 to 5 years with no income ceiling.
Free tools and guides from the Open Bankruptcy Project.
Means Test Calculator Exemptions by StateOur research was cited by the federal judiciary as Suggestions 26-BK-3 and 26-BK-5