Chapter 13 cases involve a payment plan over 3 to 5 years.  No case may be completed in less than 3 years (unless an undue hardship exists), nor may the plan extend beyond 5 years.

Since 2005, the Bankruptcy Code now requires that debtors whose income is above the median family income levels to remain in Chapter 13 for 5 years.  Median family income is based on data collected by the US Census Bureau and the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Trustee (the government agency that oversees bankruptcy cases) publishes updates to those income levels  on their website. 

For cases filed after March 15, 2011, the following median income levels apply in Nebraska: