Any direct payments you receive (and don’t have to pay back) can count as income for credit card applications. Your income sources may include employment or self-employment earnings, investment income, government or pension payments, income from a spouse or partner, allowances, scholarships, grants, bursaries, or trust fund payouts.  Your income may be in the form of cash, direct deposits or cheques. Borrowed money (such as lines of credit or student loans) does not count as income for credit card applications.