The planned layoff of 230 employees at 4XH Logistics, a freight and delivery company in the San Antonio area, is set to occur between Nov. 6 and Nov. 19, according to a notice filed with the Texas Workforce Commission and reported by KENS 5. The announcement comes as unemployment in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area climbed to 4.7 percent in July, up from 3.8 percent in April, based on preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. For workers with credit card debt and other obligations, the layoff raises urgent questions about how and when to seek bankruptcy protection.
Leinart Law Firm, a Texas bankruptcy practice, advises affected workers to review the timing of any filing before their last day of work. The reason lies in the federal means test, which determines eligibility for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Under the test, income from nearly all sources is averaged over the six full calendar months before the month of filing. This means that wages received before a layoff remain in the average until their corresponding month drops out of the six-month window. For example, a final paycheck received in November 2026 would still count in any case filed through May 2027.
That average is then multiplied by 12 and compared to the Texas median family income for the same household size. A filer at or below the median passes the means test without further calculation. A filer above the median must complete a second calculation that subtracts allowed living expenses, and the result may favor a Chapter 13 repayment plan instead of a Chapter 7 discharge.
According to Marcus Leinart, founder of Leinart Law Firm, waiting for higher-income months to leave the means test window is not always practical. "A layoff changes a household's finances right away, but the means test reflects that change gradually over six months," he said. "We review each month in that window with a client so the filing date accounts for both the income calculation and what creditors are already doing."
Creditor lawsuits, scheduled foreclosure sales, or vehicle repossessions can force a faster decision. In those situations, filing sooner may be the better choice because the automatic stay halts most collection activity upon filing. A bankruptcy lawyer in San Antonio, TX can help workers evaluate whether an earlier filing makes sense despite the income calculation.
The layoff notice affects workers at a facility in Boerne, Texas, and the job losses represent a significant blow to the local workforce. As unemployment rises, more households may find themselves weighing bankruptcy options. The key takeaway is that the timing of a filing can determine whether a worker qualifies for Chapter 7 or must instead commit to a Chapter 13 repayment plan. For those facing mounting debt, understanding the six-month income rule is essential to making an informed decision.
