Am I eligible to apply for a credit card if I am retired or collecting a pension?
Being self-employed, retired or on a pension doesn’t mean you can’t access credit. However, you may be required to meet other terms and conditions and provide additional documents, so do your research before applying for a credit card.
We’ve done some of the hard work for you and made a list of providers that accept retired applicants, as well as the documents you’ll need to improve your chances of approval.
Our pick: Simmons Bank Visa Platinum
The Simmons Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers multiple perks, including one of the lowest available APRs on the market.
- 8.25% variable APR
- $0 annual fee
- $0 balance transfer fee
- Travel coverage
| Provider | Who can apply and the documents you’ll need |
|---|
| Amex | - Retired and pension: Yes. Social Security number, address, total annual income (including pension), a prior American Express account, credit history and a contact number. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| Citi | - Retired and pension: Yes. Social Security number, a written application or invitation, address, email, total annual income (including pension) and contact number.
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| Barclays | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, Social Security number or ID, total annual income (including pension), contact number and email. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| TD Bank | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, total annual income (including pension), address, Social Security number, email and contact number.
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| Wells Fargo | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, address, Social Security number or ID, permanent citizenship, good credit score and total annual income (including pension). The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| HSBC | - Retired and pension: Yes. Social Security number or ID, total annual income (including pension) and address. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| PNC Bank | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, Social Security or ID, total annual income (including pension) and address. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| Capital One | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, Social Security number or ID, total annual income (including pension), address and contact number. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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| Simmons Bank | - Retired and pension: Yes. Application form, total annual income (including pension), Social Security number or ID, address and contact number. The credit card department may reach out directly through email or phone for extra information.
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Back to topApplying without researching
Rejected applications can negatively affect your credit report, so be sure to confirm the information you’ll need to increase your chances of approval. Read the terms and conditions or contact the provider to answer any questions you have before applying.
Tips to increase approval for your credit card application.
Applying for several cards quickly
If you are rejected for a credit card application, don’t immediately apply for another one. Instead, consider why your application was denied. If you didn’t submit the required documents, research and find which ones you’re missing. If you were rejected because of your credit history, you’ll need to take some time to improve your credit score before applying again.
Learn how to improve your credit score.
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Rates last updated April 21st, 2018
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