Getting a credit card. I don't see myself as unemployed as I'm disabled?

williewonder

On all credit applications they ask you if you're unemployed or in employment. I'm technically unemployed but am disabled and receive disability benefits and have done for 17 years. My benefits are very stable, perhaps more stable than working. I receive £25.600 a year in disability income just for myself. How come this isn't taken into account when applying for credit accounts? Why don't they have a disabled box to tick? 

[Deleted User]

Because you could still be either employed or unemployed as well as disabled.  

Tick unemployed - or even retired, depending on the circumstances - and then put in your income.

adamp87

Because there are those who are deemed disabled who also work I imagine.

Isn’t there a section for other sources of income that you’d put your 25k on?

williewonder

adamp87 said:

Isn’t there a section for other sources of income that you’d put your 25k on?

I never thought about putting source of income like my monthly PIP payment in the section that sometimes ask you about other income. I also get housing benefit which is around £9k a year but this goes straight to my landlord and I don't add this into my total income when putting income details in ClearScore and such. I just put my disability benefits. On the housing expenditure I just put £1. Should I be adding all of my income including housing benefits into total income?

KxMx

You occasionally find Disabled as an option on credit applications but not often. 

So unemployed is the correct option if disabled isn't present. 

crumpet_man

I've seen some applications which have:
- employed
- unemployed
- house person
- independent means

If you take the Government definition of unemployment then you are definitely not unemployed, you are not available for work therefore not unemployed.  It's not as simple as if you don't have a job you must be unemployed.
Also, you can include your housing benefit as other income but then include the cost of housing as the real amount.

KxMx

If in doubt contact the provider before making an application- I did this with Barclaycard and was firmly told unemployed was the correct option for my circumstances (also disabled, unable to work).

Dr_Crypto

You could probably put housewife/husband if you wanted to. 

It isn’t really “private means” as that is for people with enough money not to work or who are receiving allowances from family/trusts rather than state benefits. 

Mnoee

Amazon New Day is one card that has 'disabled' as an option. I have also used housewife as a description, as I live with my partner and that would be an equally accurate description. You'll likely start with a low limit, but I'm up to £2.5k with Amazon now from diligently spending and paying off in full, which is definitely enough for my needs. It can be difficult, but it's certainly possible! Good luck. 

epm-84

adamp87 said:

Because there are those who are deemed disabled who also work I imagine.

Indeed.  A large proportion of the population have a disability and a lot of them do some form of work.  Only those with the most severe disabilities don't work.

sleepyjones

williewonder said:

adamp87 said:

Isn’t there a section for other sources of income that you’d put your 25k on?

I never thought about putting source of income like my monthly PIP payment in the section that sometimes ask you about other income. I also get housing benefit which is around £9k a year but this goes straight to my landlord and I don't add this into my total income when putting income details in ClearScore and such. I just put my disability benefits. On the housing expenditure I just put £1. Should I be adding all of my income including housing benefits into total income?

Housing Benefit, I assume, wouldn't count as "income" since technically it's not yours.