Activity 9: Engaging with other people face to face

Scores social engagement face to face. Psychological distress is the most common high-scoring descriptor here; the 8-point 'cannot engage at all' descriptor is reserved for claimants who cannot tolerate any face-to-face interaction.

All figures on this page are taken from Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP, published April 2026) and the Universal Credit 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 engage with other people unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people.
2 pts
C. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people.
4 pts
D. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either (i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant; or (ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person.
8 pts

Worked example: PTSD with hyper-vigilance

Group settings trigger flashbacks; you need a trained social-support worker (not just a friend) to engage with the GP. Descriptor c applies, scoring 4 points.

Descriptor scored: C, 4 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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