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PiP Appeals & Pokemon

The latest figures from the Department for Work & Pensions show that nearly 60% of fit-for-work decisions have been overturned at appeal.

When the Government introduced the disability benefit personal independence payments or Pips three years ago, they said at the time that face to face interview with claimants would make assessments fairer. There was scepticism from disabled people and benefits advisers, because past experience with people undergoing fitness for work assessments, had led to a high number of appeals. Yesterday, the latest figures from the Department for Work & Pensions show that nearly 60% of fit-for-work decisions have been overturned at appeal. We've heard from listener Fiona Ensor whose daughter Abigail has just had a face to face interview for her Pips claim. Abigail has complex physical and learning disabilities. Fiona says it was a farce.

Copycat websites - people are still falling for that old trick. You make your website look like an official and then charge over the odds for something which you could have got for free.

We might be reckoned to be a nation of couch potatoes but the truth is that activities like cycling and running have never been more popular. Yet the stores selling the stuff you need to do these sports are struggling. Sports Direct for instance, are ending a troubled year with earnings that have fallen of a cliff - down by a third. But there is an exception. JD Sports is expanding with pre-tax profits of around five million pounds. So how are they bucking the trend?
Chief Executive Peter Cowgill came in to the studio for a rare face to face interview and I began by asking him if they were benefiting from Sports Direct losses

If you pay for a service - like insurance - and then cancel, then you'd expect to get your money back. Sadly though, it's not that simple. Alan Brinsdon got in touch - he's a pensioner and had to sell his motorbike because of ill health. His insurance costs just Β£8.50 a month -, but when he phoned to cancel the policy, he was told he'd have to pay a cancellation fee of Β£65.36? Guidance by the Financial Conduct Authority say that all exit fees must be 'reasonable'. But what is reasonable?

If you thought we reached Peak Pokemon in the summer, you'd be wrong. A lot of those people who were walking around with their heads in their smart-phones looking for Pokemon characters with the mobile app are in London today at the Pokemon European International Championships. There's a prize pot of upto 200 grand on offer for those who are good at it. But good at what exactly?
Our reporter Simon Hoban is down there now.. trying to find Picachu?

Presenter: Peter White
Editor: Chas Watkin.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Personal Independence Payment

    Are the PIP assessments fair?

    Duration: 08:34

  • JD Sports

    Are JD Sports benefiting from Sports Direct losses?

    Duration: 06:40

  • Copy Cat Websites

    People are still falling for that old trick.

    Duration: 04:53

  • Pokemon

    If you thought we reached Peak Pokemon in the summer, you'd be wrong.

    Duration: 08:21

  • Cancelling Insurance

    If you pay for a service, then cancel, you'd expect your money back. It's not that simple

    Duration: 03:27

  • Blind Cord Deaths

    Bereaved parents and grandparents warn of the hidden dangers of blind cords for toddlers.

    Duration: 05:10

Broadcast

  • Fri 9 Dec 2016 12:15

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