PIP form question 11: mixing with other people

This is the most important part of the question as your answer may affect if you’re awarded PIP. Include as much detail as possible. 

Explain how your condition makes it hard for you to socialise with others and how you deal with this. Include information about people who help you and if your condition fluctuates (some days are worse than others). 

If you need help you’re not currently getting, mention that here. 

What if I have good and bad days? 

Your condition might mean some days are better than others. 

If that’s the case, try to describe what a good day and a bad day look like for you and how your symptoms vary.  

It can be useful to say how many good days and how many bad days you have in a typical week e.g. on average, I have one or two good days a week and five or six bad days. This helps to show how your condition affects you most of the time. DWP will base their decision on whether to award you PIP on this.

Think about how long it takes you to socialise compared to someone without your condition e.g. you might have to psych yourself up before attending a social gathering. 

If you can’t be precise because some days are better than others, it’s okay to estimate. Just make sure you say it’s an estimate and explain why you couldn’t be entirely accurate e.g. because your condition fluctuates. 

What if someone helps me? 

Your condition might mean you need another person to help you, such as a carer, family member or friend.  

Explain who they are, why they help you, what they help you with and how often. 

Again, if the amount of help you need varies from day to day, just explain why that’s the case. 

Example 

A close friend might help by going with you to a support group once a week. They might help you prepare mentally by meeting you an hour beforehand, travelling with you and starting conversations at the group. After the session, they might stay with you for another hour to help you process the session and calm down. 

What about safety? 

Your condition might mean that sometimes you put yourself or other people at risk. 

Mention if you ever become aggressive towards people or feel vulnerable around others Say what’s happened on occasions like this in the past, whether you need help from someone who understands your condition and what could happen if you don’t have the help you need. 

Be clear how often you become aggressive or feel vulnerable around others, if it’s likely to happen again and if there’s anything you can do to stop it.  

Example answer 

My anxiety makes it hard for me to socialise with people I don’t know well. Because I have panic attacks at the thought of coming into contact with people, I avoid dealing with others as much as possible. Even on good days, which are rare – maybe one day a week, I still get easily agitated and upset. On bad days, I become aggressive towards myself and other people.  

My partner helps me prepare mentally for about an hour in advance when I need to do something that involves meeting other people, but I still become extremely distressed and have hurt myself on numerous occasions. I hit myself in the head and bang my head against the wall when I’m upset. When I’m in this state, I rely on my partner to try and stop me hurting myself. I had to visit A&E on one occasion because I gave myself concussion. I haven’t hurt my partner, but I think there’s a strong possibility that I could as I become very aggressive with him and lose all control when I’m really distressed. This happens at least three or four times a week.  

My partner has to come with me when I meet someone who isn’t a close friend or family member to try and keep me calm. After I’ve been in a social situation, he spends a good hour reassuring me and trying to ease my anxiety as I always worry about how I’ve behaved. 

If you need help filling in the rest of your PIP form, continue to our guide on question 12.