Activity 7: Communicating verbally

Scores speaking and understanding speech in your own language. Hearing aids are an aid; a BSL interpreter is communication support and scores 8 points.

All figures on this page are taken from Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP, published April 2026) and the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Act 2025. Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Last full review: 22 June 2026. Next scheduled review: April 2027 (post-uprating). See the full sources register.

Descriptors and points

A. Can express and understand verbal information unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.
2 pts
C. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information.
4 pts
D. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information.
8 pts
E. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support.
12 pts

Worked example: Profound bilateral hearing loss

You use a BSL interpreter for medical appointments because hearing aids alone do not give you basic verbal information. Descriptor d applies, scoring 8 points.

Descriptor scored: D, 8 points.

Reliability test

Whatever descriptor you pick must apply to you safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If you can only manage the activity on a good day, the next-higher descriptor usually applies. This is the single most common reason claimants are under-scored on assessment.

Source

Descriptors and points are taken from Schedule 1 of the Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013. Interpretation guidance is in the PIP assessment guide (DWP, Feb 2026).

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