5. Calculate surplus income payments
Question & Answer
How do I file for bankruptcy?The government sets guidelines for the income that bankrupt people and their families are allowed to keep each month to live. Any money you earn that is more than the guidelines is called “surplus income”.
If you file for and your family income is above the guidelines, you will need to make surplus income payments to the trustee while you are bankrupt.
When calculating your surplus income, “non-discretionary expenses” are subtracted from your income. For example:
- child or spousal support payments
- child care expenses
- medical expenses
- job-related expenses
Your trustee can tell you if you have to make a surplus income payment and how much that payment will be. To see if you might have to make , use the calculator.
