Am I eligible?

Yes, if you are a civil servant

If you work/worked for a government department (such as HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions, or Ministry of Justice), then you are / were a civil servant. You are eligible whether you had a permanent role or a fixed term contract.

If you work / worked for an executive agency, such as the Health and Safety Executive, you are / were a civil servant.

Some Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are not part of the Civil Service.

If you’re not sure whether your organisation is part of the Civil Service, check the list of all current government departments and executive agencies via the gov.uk website.

The following employers are not Civil Service:

the armed forces (but MOD civilian staff are)
local authority and county councils
the NHS
a recruitment agency even if you are working in a government office
agencies that work alongside a government department e.g. security companies

Search for other occupational charities giving support via Lightning Reach or approach your union if you are a member.

Yes, if you are a dependant

We class a financial dependant as someone who relies on the civil servant (current or former or retired) for their income. Usually they’re part of that person’s household.

Dependants might be:

widows, widowers, surviving partners
divorced or separated partners where there is financial dependence and very little alternative support
children under 16 or over 16 but still in education
adult children or other relatives with illness, disability, frailness or vulnerability and financial dependence on the eligible civil servant and limited alternative support
carers and companions where they rely financially on the eligible civil servant and have very little alternative financial support

The fact that you are receiving financial or other in-kind contributions from the eligible civil servant does not in itself mean that you are financially dependent on them.