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Can You Get a Credit Card When You Don’t Have a Job?

4 min read

Last Updated: November 12, 2024

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You can get a credit card when you’re unemployed.
Credit card companies consider other income sources besides employment.
A secured credit card may be a good option for someone with little or no credit history.

Credit cards can offer a convenient way to make payments, plus the possibility of earning rewards. If you don’t have a job, you may wonder whether you will be able to qualify for a credit card. While the answer is not a simple yes or no, having a source of income and/or assets may improve your chances.

How to get a credit card if you have no job

Government regulations under Title 12 require credit card issuers to verify your ability to pay credit card debt before issuing a card. Ensuring your ability to repay your debt is an important factor to credit card companies in approving you for an account.

Show income when you apply

To qualify for a credit card, you must demonstrate your ability to pay. A credit card application typically asks for income from various sources. The following are examples of income that credit card issuers may consider:

Income from employment (wages, salary, or tips)
Money that is regularly deposited into your account by someone else, if you’re under 21
Investments
Bonus pay
Commissions
Income from rental property, interest, dividends, and retirement benefits paid
Unemployment benefits
Certain student grants
Social Security payments
Another person’s income that’s available to you, if you’re 21 or older, or if you live in a community property state if you’re under the age of 21

Note that student loans are not considered income when applying for a credit card.

Will being unemployed limit the credit cards you can get?

If your income is lower because you’re unemployed, not every credit card issuer will approve your credit card application. However, some may. If you have enough income from other sources, unemployment won’t limit the cards you’re eligible for.

If being unemployed changes your financial picture, this may limit the cards you qualify for. With Discover, checking to see if you’re pre-approved is fast, easy and won’t impact your credit score.¹

See If You’re Pre-Approved

Credit cards to consider when you don’t have a job

Some types of cards may be easier to qualify for if you’ve lost income because you’re unemployed, or if your credit has suffered because of difficulty paying bills on time.

Secured credit cards

Secured credit cards are one option for someone with limited or no credit history. To open a secured card, you must deposit money with the credit card company. This security deposit reduces the company’s risk, and the deposit amount required is usually the same as your credit limit. Keep in mind that you still need to qualify for the card, and the issuer may pull your credit file to determine your creditworthiness and ability to pay.

You can use a secured credit card just like any credit card to make purchases. However, if you fail to make your payments or close your account with a balance, the company will apply the deposit toward your outstanding balance.

Note that secured credit cards are different from prepaid debit cards. You can build credit with a secured card. Generally, a credit card issuer doesn't report your activity on debit cards or prepaid debit cards to any credit bureau. For that reason, they don’t usually affect your credit report in the same way a secured card does.

After you’ve used a secured card responsibly for a period of time, you may be able to have your credit line transferred to an unsecured credit card and continue to build your credit history.

Did you know?

With the Discover it^® Secured Card, you can get your deposit back after six consecutive months of on-time payments and maintaining good status on all your credit accounts.²

Learn More

If you're a student, you may consider a student credit card instead of a secured card, which may fit better into your current financial situation.

Becoming an authorized user

If you can’t or don’t want to get a credit card in your name, you can ask a friend or family member to add you as an authorized user on their card if the credit card issuer allows it. But be sure you and the account owner understand how it works so neither of you hurt your credit.

Using credit responsibly during unemployment helps you apply once you get a job

If you lost your job and your income is lower, it can be tempting to run up balances and skip credit card payments, especially if you've already exhausted your savings account. But you should try to make at least the minimum payment due.

Missed payments and using a large percentage of your credit limit may impact your credit score. A low credit score may make it harder to get a new credit card, even after you have income from a new job.

You can get a credit card while unemployed, but is it a good idea?

Every financial situation is different. If you don’t have a job, but you do have other reliable income, you may be able to manage monthly payments and keep your balance low. This could help you with building credit history while you search for a job. However, if you don’t have a reliable income, you may have a hard time managing your credit card bill, which could hurt your credit score. In these circumstances, it may be best for you not to apply for new credit. The best credit card for you depends on your unique circumstances.

Then, when you have consistent income again, you can apply for new credit, like a cash back credit card that can earn rewards on eligible purchases.

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