Can I get a credit card without a job?

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Credit cards are great for building credit and establishing a healthy financial history. But because income is one of many factors that affects your eligibility, you may be wondering if you can be approved for a credit card without a job.

The short answer is yes, you can get a credit card without a job. Being employed is a consideration, but what’s important is your ability to make on-time payments. (Having a good credit history of making on-time payments in the past also helps).

Keep the following four tips in mind when applying for credit cards to increase your chances of being accepted. 

1. Consider all forms of income

Ultimately, lenders care more about your incomethan they do your salary.This means that qualifying for a credit card—even if you aren’t receiving a consistent wage—is still possible. Consider all income you have access to when applying for a credit card, no matter what stage of life you’re in. 

If you’re a student

When you’re applying for a credit card as a student without a job, you can report any extra student aid that isn’t going toward tuition as income, which may help you qualify for a credit card. Note, however, that you should not report borrowed money as income, such as student loans.

If you have an employed spouse

Thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009, those over 21 can report household income they have access to when applying for a credit card. This means you can report your spouse’s or partner’s income if you have a joint bank account or if they transfer an amount of money to you every month.

If you’ve lost your job

After losing a job, you’ll want to avoid overextending your budget. However, a credit card can still be a useful safety net in case of an unforeseen situation when funds are tight. After filing for unemployment, you can report these earnings, along with any severance pay, as income when applying. 

If you’re retired

You may also report any non-wage income when applying for a credit card. When you’re not working, this could mean interest, dividends or Social Security payments. Ideally, retirees have had a long time to build a solid credit history, which may help you get approved.

2. Leverage someone else when applying

Everyone needs a little help from time to time. If they’re willing, friends and family with good credit scores may be able to cosign or add you as an authorized user on their credit card.

Have someone cosign

Although it’s a big favor to ask someone, having a parent or trusted close friend cosign on a credit card is a great way to qualify if your own credit history isn’t sufficient. If you choose this route, it’s doubly important that you make on-time payments each month—to maintain your own credit score and your cosigner’s.

Become an authorized user

A cardholder you trust can add you as an authorized user, provided you meet the issuer’s minimum requirements. You can then use their credit card to make purchases and pay them the amount you spent. Although the card won’t be yours, as long as the primary cardholder makes consistent payments, this will contribute positive credit reporting over time. This can be a good option for those looking to build credit. 

3. Go for a secured credit card

If you’re unable to qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card, you may want to explore secured options. A secured credit card is a card with a relatively small credit limit set by a refundable safety deposit. The purpose of secured credit cards is to help people – new borrowers, those with poor credit, or those without a steady income – build credit without risk.

4. Make sure you can pay your balance

Remember that if you’re applying for a credit card without a job, you must be able to pay off the balance. Avoid getting into a borrowing situation that will cause you to carry over a large balance month to month, as credit card interest can add up fast.

As long as you don’t charge more than you can afford, unemployment doesn’t have to be a barrier to credit-building. By developing a responsible, on-time repayment plan, you can set yourself up for credit success early on. 

Frequently asked questions

Does unemployment affect your credit?

Unemployment doesn’t directly affect your credit. While your credit report includes your repayment history, it doesn’t include your income, employment status or whether you’ve filed for or received unemployment. However, if your job loss results in missed payments or a poor credit utilization ratio (ratio of available credit to spent credit), these things could affect your score. 

What is a good annual income to get a credit card?

This depends on the issuer. While income won’t appear on your credit report or affect your credit score, issuers are still required to ask applicants to state their income to ensure credit borrowers can repay their debts. However, issuers set their own credit application requirements, and there’s no universal income requirement for credit cards.

What disqualifies you from getting a credit card?

Credit card application approvals are at the issuer’s discretion, but in most cases, you must be at least 21 years old to open an account under your own name. If you’re under 21, you’ll likely be asked to provide proof of independent income or have an adult cosign. Beyond age, issuers can set their own income, credit score and other requirements. Failing to meet these requirements could disqualify you from obtaining a certain card, though you may still be eligible for others. 

How should I describe my occupation on a credit application if I have no job?

When you’re unemployed, you can use the occupation field to show lenders how you spend your time. This can mean listing your occupation as a student, stay-at-home parent or even a retiree. Remember, you don’t need a job to get a credit card, so being honest here won’t disqualify you. The same thing goes if you come to a question about your employer information—just be honest and put none.

A credit card is just one part of your overall credit history. For help strengthening your credit score or understanding your credit, contact our team at Lexington Law. Get started today with a free credit assessment. 

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