Due to the CARD Act of 2009, borrowers aged eighteen to twenty must prove they can independently pay back their debt to get approved for a student card without a cosigner (something most major credit card companies no longer allow). This means they can’t use their parent’s annual income. Applicants twenty-one and older may not include their parent’s pay as student income for a credit card application either.

However, all applicants eighteen or older may count a monthly allowance or deposit of funds from a support source like a parent as income. But you’ll need to ensure that any financial support you receive gets deposited into a bank account in your name to qualify as personal income. You may also be asked to provide bank statements that reflect the monthly deposits.