PIP Qu.9 Engaging with other people face to face

mrsdoyle

Hi,would attending doctors,hospital,dentist type appointments and no engagement with anyone else,be considered as being unable to engage in the normal social way. thanks.

Alice_Holt

mrsdoyle said:

Hi,would attending doctors,hospital,dentist type appointments and no engagement with anyone else,be considered as being unable to engage in the normal social way. thanks.

      Possibly.

      There is info on case law here:

https://pipinfo.net/activities/engaging-with-other-people-face-to-face   

CPIP/1241/2017, CPIP/ 2685/2016,  and  CPIP/1127/2017 may be relevant.


 It would depend on why no other engagement was possible, an assessor would likely want to see evidence of a health condition and prescribed medication / engagement with a mental health professional.

Note that there is no definition of 'engage' in part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Regulations. Rather, there is a definition of 'engage socially' which is to mean '(a) interact with others in a contextually and socially appropriate manner; (b) understand body language; and (c) establish relationships'.

poppy12345

Do you attend the appointments alone or with someone else?

peteuk

For me its not as clear cut as that,  if  going to hospital and gp appointments and engaging then it clearly shows the ability to do so, as poppy has asked is this alone of with someone, does this person wait outside or attend the appointment?

I would question the reason why, is there a mental health issue that would stop the engagement outside of those appointment, is there evidence of specialist input or medication.  

On a wider context how do you do the weekly shopping, do you speak to the cashier or do delivery person if internet shopping.

If there is solid proof that a person can engage with others, just because they don't do so in certain circumstances suggests to me that they can do so, but for what ever reason they dont. So in that case I would say not.

However if it is a case of yes to the gp etc but no to everything else and they nod to the delivery person but not engage then id say potentially yes. But its down to the assessor and dm.

mrsdoyle

poppy12345 said:

Do you attend the appointments alone or with someone else?

with a friend

HillStreetBlues

Alice_Holt said:

mrsdoyle said:

Hi,would attending doctors,hospital,dentist type appointments and no engagement with anyone else,be considered as being unable to engage in the normal social way. thanks.

      Possibly.

      There is info on case law here:

https://pipinfo.net/activities/engaging-with-other-people-face-to-face   

CPIP/1241/2017, CPIP/ 2685/2016,  and  CPIP/1127/2017 may be relevant.


 It would depend on why no other engagement was possible, an assessor would likely want to see evidence of a health condition and prescribed medication / engagement with a mental health professional.

Note that there is no definition of 'engage' in part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Regulations. Rather, there is a definition of 'engage socially' which is to mean '(a) interact with others in a contextually and socially appropriate manner; (b) understand body language; and (c) establish relationships'.

A friend of my has issues with engaging with others face to face.
She had a letter from her mental health professional stating how much trouble she has and the meds to she has to take to function.
The DM  scored her zero points, as having a  mental health professional shows the ability to engage face to face.

So basally if a DM wants give zero points, nothing can be done to prevent this.

Alice_Holt

mrsdoyle said:

poppy12345 said:

Do you attend the appointments alone or with someone else?

with a friend

       Why ?
       What would happen (before, during, after) the appt if you didn't have a close friend / family member with you?

     How do you cope sitting in waiting rooms pre appt ?
    How would you feel if someone tried to engage you in conversation in that waiting room ?

  Some Q's to consider when completing the PIP form on social engagement.