I have had this question as well. My income is reduced, although not from retirement. I took a temporary position with an NGO. I am living in Africa. I am given an "allowance", but most living expenses are provided by the NGO. Although my current income is much lower on paper than it was when I had a regular job in the US, the money left over after all necessary expenses is roughly the same as it was because my living expenses here are very low. This makes it look bad on paper though, such as when I apply for a credit card. I have never been denied for approval, but I have been denied CLI's. It also seems to me that the CL's I'm given at approvals are lower than they used to be.