If you're at least 21 years old and you have access to the income of a partner or spouse, you can list it in your credit card application.
Published Jul 12, 2017 · 1 min read Written by Lindsay Konsko Lindsay Konsko Paul Soucy
Lead Assigning Editor | Credit cards, credit scoring, personal finance
Paul Soucy has led the Credit Cards content team at NerdWallet since 2015 and the Travel Rewards team since 2023. He was an editor with USA Today, The Des Moines Register and the Meredith/Better Homes and Gardens family of magazines for more than 20 years. He also built a successful freelance writing and editing practice with a focus on business and personal finance. He was editor of the USA Today Weekly International Edition for six years and received the highest award from ACES: The Society for Editing. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Sarah; his two sons; and a dog named Sam.
Fact Checked Co-written by Melissa Lambarena Senior Writer Melissa LambarenaMelissa Lambarena is a senior writer on the credit cards team at NerdWallet. She has enthusiastically covered credit card-related topics for over seven years. Her prior experience includes nine years as a content creator for several publications and websites. Through her work, she aims to help readers extract value from credit cards to meet financial goals like stretching their budget, building credit, traveling to dream destinations and paying off debt. She explores these topics in the Millennial Money column featured in The Associated Press. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Finance, among others. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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It used to be that the only income you could put down on a credit card application was your own — the money you earned independently. That rule often made it impossible for spouses who didn't work outside the home or those who worked part time to get their own credit card accounts.
But things have changed. As long as you're 21 or older, you can include your household income, including income from your spouse or partner, on your credit card application.
The Credit Card Act of 2009 requires credit card companies to take "the ability of the consumer to make the required payments" into account when deciding whether to approve an application.
A 2013 amendment to the federal regulations surrounding the Card Act expanded the definition of one's ability to pay so that people 21 and older can include any income to which they have a "reasonable expectation of access." This can include income from a spouse, partner or other member of your household. It can also include nonwage income such as savings, trust fund distributions, unemployment compensation and others.
However, people under 21 must still be able to show that they have independent income to qualify for a credit card. If they don't have independent income, they must have a co-signer.
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Income alone isn’t enough to get you approved for a credit card. Issuers will also look at your credit report, credit score and existing debts.
Different types of cards will be a better or worse fit for your household depending on your circumstances. Consider the following:
Rewards credit cards: If you have good or excellent credit , you may qualify for cards that give you cash back or travel rewards on each dollar you spend. Many offer generous sign-up bonuses .
Low-interest credit cards : Ideally, you should pay off your balance in full every month to avoid interest. When that's not possible, a low-interest credit card can save you money.
Balance transfer credit cards : These cards can save you serious money if you're carrying high-interest credit card debt. They offer a year or more at a 0% annual percentage rate, so you can pay down your debt without having to pay any interest.
Secured credit cards : These are valuable tools for people with bad credit or no credit history. They require a security deposit, usually equal to your credit limit. You get that money back when you close the account or upgrade to a regular credit card.
The 2013 amendment means that it doesn’t matter if you’re preparing, serving and eating the bacon instead of bringing it home. The law now says that your spouse's income is as good as your own independent income when it comes to applying for a credit card.
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