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 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 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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