Some families seeking bankruptcy protection after October 1, 2006 may have a new hurdle to jump: the “means test” might be more difficult for some to pass.

The “means test”, a nifty gift of the BAPCPA, is based first on the comparison of the debtor’s median income against the state’s median income as determined by the Census Bureau. For a family of two in Massachusetts, the current median income is $57,165, but as of October 1, 2006 it will be $58,479.

But for a family of 3, the current median income is $73,837, but as of October 1 it will drop to $72,749. For a family of 4, the median income will drop to $85,420 from $88,044. For more information on these changes, check out the US Trustee website.