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Life’s expenses are one consistent in our ever-changing lives. If you are unemployed and struggling to cover expenses until your next move, you may be in need of a personal loan. Personal loans are available for unemployed individuals, but they may be more challenging to secure. So what will you need to qualify? What lenders can help? What are the best personal loans for the unemployed?
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Keep reading to uncover the answers to these questions and more.
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+Life's expenses are one consistent in our ever-changing lives. If you are unemployed and struggling to cover expenses until your next move, you may be in need of a personal loan. Personal loans are available for unemployed individuals, but they may be more challenging to secure. So what will you need to qualify? What lenders can help? What are the best personal loans for the unemployed?
Keep reading to uncover the answers to these questions and more.
Can I apply for a personal loan while unemployed?
To start, yes you can get a personal loan while unemployed. Of course, not everyone will qualify, and you can expect some challenges ahead. From a lender's perspective, loaning money to an individual who is unemployed is extremely risky. However, an employed borrower may lose their job after taking a loan too. So, really there is risk whenever a lender loans money. This is why employment is an evaluation factor for most lenders. If you have a solid credit history, your chance of qualifying will certainly be higher. Also, if you have other sources of income, aside from a traditional W2 position, this may help. Other sources of income could include gig work, self-employment, disability benefits, and more.
You will also want to be realistic about what you can afford, even if you are desperate for cash. You may already be in a financial bind and while this personal loan could help you, it will also increase your monthly expenses. Being unemployed can cause extreme uncertainty in our lives. While it's important to maintain a positive attitude and be optimistic, you don't want to set up your financial well-being around hope.
While being unemployed may make it more difficult to obtain a personal loan, it is not impossible to apply for personal loans for the unemployed. There are a number of factors that lenders will consider when assessing a loan application, and employment status is just one of them.
Other considerations when you apply for loan unemployment include credit history, income and assets. As such, it is possible to obtain a personal loan while unemployed, but it may be more difficult to find a lender who is willing to work with you. You may also have to provide additional documentation to prove your ability to repay the loan.
Can I borrow money if I am unemployed?
Yes, you can get approved for a loan if you're unemployed but it won't be a walk in the park. Most lenders will want to see some form of income. In addition, they may require that you back the loan with collateral.
If you are unemployed, you may be able to borrow money. If you have solid credit and alternative sources of income, you may qualify for a traditional personal loan, credit card, or other form of short-term loan. However, you will need to be able to prove to a lender that you can cover the monthly payments on a consistent basis. In some cases, you may not qualify for a traditional loan, yet you may still have some options. You could consider a family loan if you have a friend or family member that is willing and able to help you through a tough time. You could also consider selling some assets to free up cash and avoid taking out a loan.
How can I get a personal loan with no income?
While you may be able to get a personal loan unemployed, you may not be able to get a personal loan with no income. Just because someone is unemployed, does not mean they don't have any income. The two situations are different. While lenders may make exceptions for unemployment, they usually won't make an exception if you can't prove the ability to make monthly payments. So how do you get a personal loan with no income? One option is to apply with a cosigner that does have income. Keep in mind that you and the cosigner will be equally responsible for loan repayment. Some of us won't have a willing and able cosigner. If this is the case, you may need to pursue a different type of loan such as a home equity line of credit or home equity loan. To qualify for one of these types of loans or similar, you will need to own a home and have equity in it.
What kind of loan can I get while unemployed?
There are a few different types of loans that you may be eligible for if you are unemployed. Consider your needs as the requirements for how to get a personal loan for rent while unemployed might vary from other purposes, for example.
One option is to take out a personal loan. You can typically get a personal loan from a bank, credit union, or online lender.
Another option is to use a credit card. If you have good credit, you may be able to get a 0% APR credit card.
Before considering any of them you should ask yourself, 'can I make on-time payments?' If you can afford a monthly payment, you will then want to consider the terms and pros and cons of various loan types. Personal loans are often the best choice. If you are considering a personal loan you may have the option to choose between a secured and unsecured loan. As an unemployed individual, a secured loan may offer more favorable terms. Here are some types of loans you may qualify for while unemployed:
Secured or unsecured personal loans
Payday loans
Cash advances
Debt consolidation loans
How can I get an emergency loan with no job?
It depends. In some cases, you may not be able to. If you are already unemployed and in need of an emergency loan, it may be too late to rely on a savings account that you don't have. While you may not want to hear this advice, it could be beneficial down the road. Always always always keep a savings account healthy with enough money to cover at least 90 days of living expenses. Now sure, life will throw curveballs at you like a global pandemic, which none of us probably prepared for. However, you should do what you can to make sure you have savings available. To qualify for an emergency loan with no job you will likely need good credit and other sources of income. If you don't have either of these items, you will probably need to find a cosigner that is willing to apply for a loan with you.
What is the minimum income for a personal loan?
According to the IRS, some other things that might be considered income include alimony, certain disability payments, unemployment benefits, interest and dividends, social security payments, pensions or annuities, and child support.
Usually, the minimum salary requirement for how much income do you need to get a personal loan is in the area of $15,000-$20,000 a year for the lowest loan amounts. If you're asking for a $100,000 loan then your income needs to be about 10x the minimum salary. You may get up to $100,000 with a high income of at least $150,000 a year.
Minimum income requirements can vary depending on the loan amount requested. Some lenders may have a minimum salary as low as $15,000 to $20,000, but this will only qualify you for small loans. If you are applying for a large loan such as $100,000, you may need to make 10x or more than this annually. Lenders can also look at your debt-to-income ratio to determine what you can afford. Some lenders do not have a minimum income requirement but still need to prove that you are capable of repaying the loan. Keep in mind that income does not have to come from an employer, according to the IRS. Here are some other sources that may be considered income by some lenders:
Alimony
Certain disability payments
Unemployment benefits
Dividends
Interest
Social Security payments
Pension or annuities
Child support
What credit score do I need for a personal loan while unemployed?
If you are unemployed, you will likely need good credit to qualify for a loan. While requirements can vary depending on the lender, a good credit score is usually a FICO score 700 or above. Lenders will typically consider other factors in addition to your credit score such as debt-to-income.
If you're unemployed, a good credit score will be even more important. With questionable employment status and income, most lenders will want to see a FICO score in the good range (670-739). You may be able to qualify with a lower credit score so ultimately if you need the money, try to apply for the loan and see if you qualify.
Where can I get a personal loan while unemployed?
If you are unemployed your best bet at securing a personal loan is probably through an online lender. While credit unions may also be willing to help, you should have more options with an online lender. At Acorn Finance, our network of top national lenders may be able to help you get a personal loan while unemployed. SoFi, one of our lending partners, is open to considering applications for unemployed borrowers. As with most lenders though, you will likely need some form of income, even if it's unemployment. In addition, you should have good credit.
If you're unemployed and in need of a personal loan, there are a few options available to you.
You may want to get prequalified for a loan from a variety of lenders. This will give you an idea of what kind of offers are available, and you can compare rates and terms to find the best deal. Checking loan offers through platforms that allow you to access multiple lenders at once can save you time. At Acorn Finance you can check personal loan offers within 60 seconds or less with no impact on your credit score. Alternatively you can check with your local bank or credit union.
Why choose Acorn Finance for personal loans?
Acorn Finance can make checking personal loan offers safe and easy. Within 60 seconds or less you can receive multiple offers from top national lenders with no impact on your credit score. Save yourself the time, hassle, and risk of hopelessly searching the internet for the best personal loan offer. Taking advantage of the Acorn Finance platform can help you shop and compare offers efficiently. You can be sure you are working with a trustworthy lender if you use an Acorn Finance lending partner.
How can I get approved for a personal loan while unemployed?
There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being approved for a personal loan while unemployed.
First, having a good credit score can increase your chance of approval. You can also consider using a co-signer that is employed to increase your chance of approval. Next, include any and all sources of income outside of employment. If you have a side hustle, include the income. If you get unemployment, disability, or child support include these sources. Lastly, ask for a reasonable amount. Most lenders will not want to lend a large amount to an individual that is unemployed. If you have a new job lined up you may be able to add it to your application with a future start date.
Should I get a personal loan while unemployed?
The question of whether or not you should take out a personal loan while unemployed is a very personal decision. Depending on what you need the loan for, there are a variety of factors that could help determine your decision.
For example, if you need a personal loan for debt consolidation or to cover a major life event such as a vehicle purchase or an unexpected medical bill, taking out a personal loan can be a very beneficial financial decision. On the other hand, it's probably not the best idea to get a personal loan for a vacation or other frivolous purchases while you are unemployed. Most importantly though, make sure you can cover the monthly payment. If a personal loan is going to cause financial strain or stress, avoid it at all cost.
What are the benefits of personal loans for the unemployed?
The primary benefit of taking out a personal loan while unemployed is that it can help you quickly and easily gain access to the cash you need to pay for everyday expenses, unexpected life events, or major purchases.
If you're having trouble paying bills, paying your mortgage or rent, or buying the essentials such as gas and food, a personal loan can be a huge saving grace. A personal loan may be used to help you recover from lost wages and sustain you until you are able to get back on your feet.
Personal loans also typically have lower interest rates than most credit cards. In addition, they usually come with a fixed monthly payment, thus making them easier to manage.
What are the downsides of getting a personal loan while unemployed?
Without a steady income, you may have a harder time finding a lender who is willing to approve you for a loan. In addition, you will have a lesser ability to repay and will need to make sure that you can safely afford to pay off the loan balance over time. Those without any current employment income may also find themselves subject to predatory lending practices, such as extremely high interest rates, and should be careful when considering their loan options. You should always take the time to carefully read through your loan terms and loan agreement.
What factors do lenders consider applying for a personal loan while unemployed?
Lenders consider several things during the underwriting process. Their goal is to determine whether or not they can trust you to pay back the loan. This is done by looking at your income, credit score, and a few other factors. When you are unemployed, the underwriting process becomes slightly more complicated. Without a stable income to consider, it can be harder to prove your creditworthiness to lenders.
Other sources of income that may be considered on your loan application include child support, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, retirement benefits, alimony, investment income, pension income, social security income, self-employment income, and more.
Your credit score and credit history will become even more important when you are applying for a loan while unemployed. The better your credit score is, the more likely you are to get approved and qualify for the lowest rates. Lenders often also ask about your job history and may calculate something known as your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Your DTI is calculated by dividing the total amount of your monthly debt payments by your total monthly income. These factors help paint a better picture for the lender of whether or not you would be trustworthy.
What can you do to improve your chances of getting a loan when you're unemployed?
Getting a personal loan when you're unemployed is more difficult, but not impossible. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting approved:
You may be able to use a cosigner or a co borrower in order to qualify for the loan. For example, you can use a spouse's income and credit history on your loan application if the lender allows it.
If you have any other sources of income such as child support, unemployment, or alimony – be sure to disclose this information to the lender in order to have the best shot at loan approval.
In addition, ensure that your credit score is as high as possible. An ideal credit score is one of at least 660 or above.
Lastly, you may be able to secure your loan with an asset, such as a savings account or car title. Secured loans are typically easier to obtain and carry lower interest rates. However, with a secured loan you run the risk of having to forfeit your property in the event that you fail to pay.
What are alternatives to personal loans for the unemployed?
Alternatives to personal loans for unemployed include government assistance programs, credit cards, home equity loans, or drawing against your 401(K). While you may be financially stressed and in a hurry to get cash, slow down and be sure to consider the pros and cons of every option. Taking on debt can be expensive and it can add to your financial burden in the long-term even though it can provide short-term relief.
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