PIP engaging with other people: how to describe your difficulties
A calm, practical guide to the PIP engaging with other people activity (Question 11 on the PIP2 form). Understand what the DWP means by face-to-face engagement, how to describe your difficulties with social interaction, and see example notes. This is reference-only and not legal, medical, or benefits advice.
What this activity covers
Activity 9 on the PIP assessment covers your ability to interact with other people face to face in a socially appropriate way. This includes understanding body language, maintaining relationships, and behaving appropriately in social situations. It is one of the most important activities for people with mental health conditions.
This activity is not about whether you want to socialise or whether you enjoy it. It is about whether you can engage with other people reliably, safely, and to an acceptable standard. If your condition makes it difficult to be around people, to interact appropriately, or to cope with the distress that social situations cause, that is relevant.
The DWP uses two specific terms for this activity. “Prompting” means reminding, encouraging, or explaining. “Social support” means support from a person trained or experienced in helping people with specific social needs. However, social support can come from anyone, including family and friends. If social support can be provided by any person, the DWP will score you at 2 points rather than 4.
How the DWP scores this activity
| Descriptor | Points |
|---|---|
| Can engage with other people unaided | 0 |
| Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people | 2 |
| Needs social support to be able to engage with other people | 4 |
| Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either overwhelming psychological distress, or behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to themselves or another person | 8 |
The highest descriptor (8 points) requires either overwhelming psychological distress or behaviour that could cause substantial harm. This does not mean you have to be violent. Overwhelming distress includes severe panic attacks, dissociation, or becoming so distressed that you cannot function.
Writing your notes for this activity
Examples: describing engagement difficulties
Below are examples of how you might describe your difficulties with this activity. These are for illustration only and should not be copied into your own form. Always describe your own experience.
“I cannot go to appointments alone because I have panic attacks in waiting rooms. My mum comes with me to every appointment and speaks for me because I freeze up. I cannot go into shops if they are busy. I do not answer the door to people I am not expecting. I have not seen any friends in over a year because the thought of social situations makes me feel sick. Even having a conversation with a neighbour leaves me shaking and needing to lie down.”
“I find social interaction exhausting and confusing. I cannot read body language or tell when someone is being sarcastic, which leads to misunderstandings. I have been told I come across as rude but I do not realise I am doing it. After any social interaction, even a short one, I need to be alone for several hours to recover. My partner comes with me to appointments and social situations to help me understand what is expected and to step in if I say something inappropriate.”
“I do not leave the house most days and I do not see anyone except my partner. I have cut off all my friends because I do not have the energy to maintain relationships. When I have to interact with people, like at a medical appointment, I barely speak and cannot wait to leave. My partner has to encourage me to engage and often speaks on my behalf. I have cancelled or missed multiple appointments because I could not face going.”
“I am hypervigilant around other people and cannot relax. In crowded places I dissociate and lose track of where I am. I cannot be in a room with people behind me. I have had flashbacks triggered by interactions with strangers. My partner always comes with me when I leave the house because without them I would either not go or I would panic and not be able to get home safely. I have not been to a social event in over two years.”
Using GuidedPIPs
GuidedPIPs walks you through the engaging with others activity with guided prompts tailored to your conditions. It helps you describe your difficulties step by step, covering avoidance, distress, support, and the impact on your daily life, so you do not have to figure out the structure on your own.
You can start for free and decide whether full access is right for you.