What does "engaging with others" mean for PIP?

It means interacting face-to-face with other people: having conversations, dealing with strangers, attending appointments, socialising. If you find social interaction distressing or need support, you score points.

Can social anxiety score PIP points?

Yes. Social anxiety that requires prompting to engage with others scores 2 points (9b). If you need a companion for social support, you score 4 points (9c). Complete inability due to distress scores 8 points (9d).

Does autistic masking affect PIP scores?

Yes. If you mask in social situations but experience burnout, meltdowns, or shutdowns afterwards, this means you cannot engage reliably. Tribunals increasingly recognise masking as evidence of difficulty.

PIP Activity 9: Engaging With Others — Descriptors, Points & How to Score

Activity 9 assesses whether you can interact with other people face to face. This covers social anxiety, difficulty understanding social cues, and behaviour that may be challenging for others.

This is a Daily Living activity. Maximum score: 8 points.

All Descriptors for Engaging With Others

Descriptor	Description	Points	Examples
9a	Can engage with other people unaided	0	—
9b	Needs prompting to engage with other people (common in: social anxiety, ADHD, autism)	2	anxiety about social interaction, impulsivity
9c	Needs social support to engage with other people (common in: autism, bipolar, PTSD)	4	companion to de-escalate, support during masking burnout
9d	Cannot engage with other people due to significant distress or risk of harm (common in: migraine, severe PTSD, schizophrenia)	8	phonophobia, violent reactions, complete avoidance

The Reliability Test for Engaging With Others

Even if you can technically do this activity, you should score higher points if you cannot do it:

Safely — without risk of harm to yourself or others
Repeatedly — as often as needed throughout the day
To an Acceptable Standard — properly and completely
In a Reasonable Time — not taking much longer than average

Failing ANY one of these four tests means you should score higher points, even if you can sometimes do the activity.

What Evidence Helps for Engaging With Others?

Mental health team letters about social difficulties, evidence of panic attacks in social situations, statements from family about isolation or social avoidance, records of incidents involving others.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Underestimating how much your condition affects social interaction, not explaining masking exhaustion (autism), not mentioning you avoid social situations entirely.

Related Activities

Free Tools to Help

Free PIP Eligibility Checker — estimate your points for all 12 activities
Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Builder — challenge a PIP decision
Evidence Request Builder — get supporting evidence from your GP
Assessment Preparation — practice PIP assessment questions