Q11: mixing with other people
This advice applies to Wales. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland
What the question means
This question is about how your condition makes it difficult for you to:
meet people and mix with them
judge situations when you're with other people and behave appropriately
establish relationships with people - for example make friends
You should think about how meeting and mixing with strangers makes you feel – and if you try to avoid it.
This question is to do with face to face contact, so it doesn't matter if you use your phone to text people.
Tick box question 11a
"Does your condition affect you mixing with other people?"
Yes
No
You should probably tick “Yes” if for example you:
need someone with you when you meet people you don’t know (for example to introduce you to them and start a conversation)
need someone to help you before or after you meet people (for example to help you keep calm)
don’t know how you’re going to react when you meet and mix with other people (for example you might become aggressive)
need someone with you but you don’t currently get that help
become anxious when you meet and mix with other people
don’t like the idea of mixing with other people
avoid mixing with other people because of the anxiety and distress it causes you
Question 11b
"Tell us about the difficulties you have with mixing with other people and how you manage them."
It’s important you tell the DWP more by explaining your situation in the box.
It’s your chance to give the DWP a true picture of how your condition affects your ability to mix with other people. They'll use this to decide if you can get PIP.
You can also use this space to explain what help you need if you don’t currently get any.
Someone prompts, reassures or supports you
Make it clear if you need help but don’t get it. If you do get help, say who helps you (for example, carer or friend) and explain:
why they help
how they help, for example they might stay with you for a while to make sure you're ok
how often they help
Make it clear if you need them to:
help you all of the time, just sometimes or say if it's too difficult to predict
be on hand - for example, help you only if needed or to make sure you and the other people are safe
Always explain what happens (or would happen) if you don't get help. For example:
you're more likely to put yourself and others in danger
you're more likely to experience physical or mental symptoms like anxiety, distress or confusion
it'll take you at least twice as long to mix with people as someone without your condition
Safety: accidents or risk of injury
Explain if you’ve ever:
become aggressive towards someone else
felt vulnerable when you’re with other people
needed help from someone who knows about your condition
Make it clear if these problems were because:
you didn’t get help or support
your condition affects your levels of concentration or mood, which might increase the likelihood of problems
you get anxious
You should also say if you think this is likely to happen in future. You should mention:
how often a risk happens, even if it doesn’t happen regularly
how badly you could be harmed
whether there’s anything you can do to prevent it happening
Good days and bad days
Explain how you cope on both good days and bad days and how you manage over a longer period of time (like a week). This gives the DWP a better picture of how you cope most of the time.
Make it clear:
if you have good days and bad days
how often you have bad days
if you have bad days more often than not
how your difficulties and symptoms differ on good days and bad days
It's ok to estimate your bad days but say if you are. If it's too difficult to estimate, explain why. For example, because your condition fluctuates.
Time it takes
Think about whether it takes you at least twice as long to mix with other people as someone without your condition. For example you might have to mentally prepare yourself before you go out.
Try to explain how long it takes. It's ok to estimate but say if you are. If it's too hard to estimate explain why - for example because your condition fluctuates.
Remember to:
include time for breaks if you need them
explain if it takes you even longer on a bad day
say if it takes longer if you have to do it repeatedly
Symptoms like anxiety, distress or confusion
Explain whether the difficulties you have meeting and mixing with people cause you any physical or mental symptoms (like anxiety, distress, confusion, or if they make you feel down).
It's helpful to explain the symptoms and give an example, including:
how often you have them
how long they last
if they're likely to increase the risk of injury or danger
if they affect your ability to carry out any of the other activities on your PIP claim form
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