For social engagement, what does 'impossible' mean?

Rumbler303
Rumbler303 Online Community Member Posts: 136 Connected
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hello there,

I'm just curious how these descriptors work just for the sake of it.

Descriptors:
(a) Engagement in social contact is always impossible due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual - 15 points
(b) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar is impossible due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual - 9 Points
(c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual - 6 Points

If (a) is for majority of time, then how often if (b) if (c) is majority of the time and (b) is impossible (what's impossible mean?) and then (a) has been confirmed to be for the majority of the time?

Comments

  • Rumbler303
    Rumbler303 Online Community Member Posts: 136 Connected

    Just gonna take a shot in the dark and say that (a) is for both familiar and unfamiliar people, and then (b) and (c) are to do with people you don't know, where (b) is pretty much whether you literally won't go out to meet people at all.

    (a) though is to do with if you won't engage with anyone unfamiliar at all, but for the majority of the time with those that are familiar, you won't engage.

  • Rumbler303
    Rumbler303 Online Community Member Posts: 136 Connected

    An example of a scenario where CSa may apply is as follows:

    This descriptor may apply to a person who rarely interacts with familiar people but may do so on exceptional/rare occasions. For example, a person who is socially isolated, is unable to interact with unfamiliar people but might open the bedroom door to allow a family member to deliver tea on a daily basis or a person who is socially isolated, is unable to engage with unfamiliar people, and only engages with their regular CPN maybe once a week.

    An example of a scenario where CSb may apply is as follows:

    This may apply to a person who rarely interacts with unfamiliar people but may do so on exceptional or rare occasions. For example, they struggle to interact with unfamiliar people and usually avoid them, but once every couple of weeks goes to the shops and manages to speak to the checkout assistant.

    An example of a scenario where CSc may apply is as follows:

    A person who struggles to interact with unfamiliar people, but has days when anxiety is not too bad and is able to go alone and speak to checkout assistant weekly.

  • Rumbler303
    Rumbler303 Online Community Member Posts: 136 Connected

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66daf5952bc43c72b0826569/wca-handbook-sept-2024.pdf

    Page 143 onwards gives more clear explanation of each one of these, which is good.

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