PIP communicating verbally: descriptors and example answers
Communicating verbally asks whether you can express yourself and understand spoken information, including with people who don't know you. DWP looks at whether you can do this reliably, without needing communication support even for basic information, on more than half of days. It also covers needing an aid such as a hearing aid to speak or hear.
Whether you can speak and understand others reliably, including strangers, on most days.
In this guide
In short
- It's question 9 on the PIP2 form.
- Covers speaking, hearing and understanding what's said, face to face.
- Being understood by people who don't know you matters, not just family.
- Basic and complex spoken information are looked at separately.
Pick what's hard, what you use, and what happens. The helper writes it up in plain words for question 9.
What the activity asks
Communicating verbally is question 9 on the PIP2 form. It asks whether you can speak so people who don't know you can understand you, hear and follow what's said, and understand what's meant.
It's not about confidence in conversation. It's about whether you can reliably get your meaning across and understand others.
What counts for this activity
Things that count include:
- needing an aid such as a hearing aid or a communication app to speak or hear;
- needing communication support, such as someone to interpret or speak for you, for complex spoken information;
- needing communication support even for basic, everyday spoken information;
- being unable to express or understand spoken information at all, even with support.
Basic information, like everyday conversation, and complex information, like detailed instructions, are looked at separately, so say which is harder for you.
What 'reliably' means
For every activity, DWP should only count what you can do:
- safely, without a real risk of being misunderstood in a way that could cause harm;
- to an acceptable standard, so you're actually understood, not just partly;
- repeatedly, in more than one conversation, not just once;
- in a reasonable time, no more than twice as long as someone without your condition.
If people who don't know you often can't follow you, or you need someone else to speak on your behalf, say so.
The descriptors
These are the official statements, from no difficulty to not being able to communicate at all, even with support. DWP picks the one that fits you on more than half of days. The PIP descriptors guide shows how each one is scored.
- Can express and understand verbal information unaided.
- Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear.
- Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information.
- Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information.
- Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support.
Example answers
Invented examples, not real claims. Write your own, in your own words, about your own day.
Weak: "People sometimes can't understand me."
This doesn't say how often, who, or what happens as a result.
Clearer: "Since my stroke, people who don't know me can only understand about half of what I say. At appointments I need my partner with me to repeat what I say and explain what I'm told. Last week at the pharmacy the assistant couldn't follow me at all, and I left without my prescription."
This gives what's happened, how often, who's affected, and a real example.
Good days and bad days
DWP looks at what's true on more than half of days over a year. If your speech or understanding varies, say what happens on a typical day and on a bad day, and how many bad days you have in a normal week or month.
Evidence that helps
Useful evidence includes a letter from a speech and language therapist, audiologist, GP or consultant that mentions your communication, or a note from someone who talks with you often. Send copies, not originals. See what to send with your PIP form.
Common questions
Does using a hearing aid count for PIP?
Yes. Needing a hearing aid or a communication aid to speak or hear counts. Say what you use and how you manage with and without it.
Is this only about speaking, or also understanding?
It's both. This activity covers expressing yourself and understanding what's said to you.
Does it matter if only strangers struggle to understand me?
Yes, that's the point of the activity. It looks at communicating with people who don't know you, not just people close to you who are used to you.
What's the difference between basic and complex spoken information?
Basic information is simple, everyday conversation. Complex information is more detailed, such as instructions or explanations. They're scored separately, so say which is harder for you.
Claiming is free
You can apply to DWP directly, and Citizens Advice can help at no cost. We're here if you'd rather do it yourself, at your own pace, any time, with no appointment to wait for.
Free to answer, and free while we test.
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Sources
- The Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, Schedule 1 - legislation.gov.uk - checked 27 September 2026
- PIP assessment guide part 2: the assessment criteria - GOV.UK - checked 27 September 2026