DEFINITION OF DESCRIPTORS FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT WCA

Hi axab43

The descriptor is as below-
Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.

16(a) Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant. Score 15

16(b) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant. Score 9

16(c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the claimant. Score 6

16(d) None of the above applies. Score 0

The following is from the BenefitsandWork guide on the WCA-
PIP/DLA alert
If you are already getting, or applying for PIP, your claim may be based in part on the PIP
activity of ‘Engaging with other people face to face’. Although not the same as this ESA
activity, there is some overlap between the two. So, take great care to give accurate
evidence here, because a medical report for ESA or UC can be used to decide on a claim for
PIP, or look again at an existing award of PIP.

Always precluded
The Upper Tribunal (in CE/3939/2013) considered the meaning of the word ‘always’. In that
case, the Judge highlighted that satisfying a test within ESA for part of a day means that test
if met on that day. He concluded that ‘always’ “can be read as meaning “every day” but not
“every moment”. He rejected the idea that ‘always’ means ‘for the majority of the time’
because people who have difficulties for the majority or the time are covered by descriptor
16(c).
Another Judge agrees (in CE/4125/2012) and states that ‘always precluded’ should consider
the claimant’s ability to engage with others in any context (whether ‘social’ or otherwise), the
distress it causes and the impact of distress on their ability to engage socially.

David

Hi axab,

Normally when doing these - it has to be at least 50% or more of the time I remember reading. So far example, 4 days from the week. I think once a year, they'd not likely entertain - however, in my experience and others on here, it can still be worth fighting till the very end.

Chris.

Hi axab,

I think there's a lot of uncertainty with things at the moment, due to the likely changes that will be announced tomorrow. Hopefully all will go okay, and nothing will change before November 2026 as that seems to be the date mentioned that the proposed changes will come into effect.

Chris.