ESA SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

phidgity wrote: With this descriptor it says that engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulting relating to others becuase of significant distress experienced by the individual. My question is if someone has underlying mental health conditions and cannot engage in social contact how do you define what social contact really is? For example, what of the person who lives with someone, or the claimant that goes to their GP, or has to attend an ATOS assessment? Do the DWP or tribunals take the view that this is social contact because if this is the case then there would be hardly any scope for qualifying for the support group on this descriptor. As the wording is 'always precluded' it means that even if you are affected for the majority of the time, as with other descriptors, it will not be counted. If there is limited contact with family and that contact, is in the most part, dysfunctional and causes distress would that be considered as not being capable? What is the best way to address the descriptor? Surely, the inability to engage in 'social' contact in the normal sence of the word 'social' needs to be taken into account? Does the descriptor actually intend that someone has to be a recluse and not speak to anyone for it to apply.