Rebuilding Families
Journey to Justice
Let’s Unpack Those Awkward Questions!
Let's dig deep and unmask the truth, for I certainly won't be fobbed off with half-hearted answers. It's time to ask the direct questions: Why are we experiencing these challenges? How did we find ourselves in this situation? When can we expect real change? Only by confronting these questions head-on can we hope to unveil the reality that lies beneath the surface and seek genuine solutions to the issues at hand.
Uncovering FII Cases: A National Investigation
Uncovering Surprises: What Did We Find?
Rebuilding Families: Journey to Justice
Investigating the Rise of FII Referrals Across the UK
Over the last few years, an unsettling trend has emerged in the UK’s safeguarding system —
a marked increase in cases involving suspected Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) and
Perplexing Presentations. These are serious allegations that can carry devastating
consequences for families, many of whom are already living with complex health needs.
While much of the data remains difficult to access, a recent Freedom of Information (FOI)
request to a local authority in the south of England (we’re not naming it, but it is a large
county) revealed some striking figures:
Just one example; below of one of the Counties that was willing to give me this breakdown of figures. Even though they could not provide me with other details, unless we pay for the time involved to extract this Data.
I am submitting this Freedom of Information request to gather data on safe- guarding cases involving suspected Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) or Per- plexing Presentations within your local authority.
Please provide the following information, broken down annually from 2018 to 2024 (or most recent full year available):
FII-Related Referral Data:
Number of safeguarding referrals involving suspected FII or Perplexing Presentations.
Checks completed by Health for Fabricated or Induced Illness case
Perplexing Presentation/ FII Related Referral Data:
Description
- Oct-Dec 2022: 4 cases
- 2023: 9 cases
- 2024: 25 cases
- Jan–Jul 2025: 12 cases
Total: 50 cases
These referrals involved suspected Fabricated or Induced Illness or
perplexing presentations — all of which required health input.
The authority was unable to provide further detail on outcomes or sources due to FOI cost
limitations (Section 12 exemption) — a common response across multiple councils. That
itself raises concerns about data transparency in child protection practices.
Is This Part of a Bigger Pattern
As someone with complex health needs and children with additional needs, I’ve lived through
what it’s like to be scrutinised instead of supported. When I started looking more deeply at
FII referral trends, I noticed something important:
The rise in FII referrals coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic
years.
Covid and It's Impact on Families
During the pandemic:
- Mental health needs skyrocketed – anxiety, depression, trauma
- Isolation and fear kept people from accessing services safely
- Benefit applications surged, especially for disability and incapacity-related support
- Agencies operated under immense pressure — and perhaps suspicion
Could the surge in FII referrals reflect a wider system response — one possibly influenced by
government funding mechanisms, benefits scrutiny, or service strain?
I don’t claim to have the full picture — but these questions are too important to ignore
Key Data Snapshot – UK Health-related Benefits &
Applications
Between 2019 and 2023, claims for disability and incapacity benefits rose significantly.
These national trends are worth considering in the context of increased safeguarding activity.
Benefit Type Time Period /Baseline Trend /Approximate Increase Notes & Source
PIP & DLA (Caseload). August 2023. 4.4 million people claiming - up by Gov.uk DWP Statistics
370,000 in one year
PIP (new claims) Summer 2021 - July 2022 → Roughly doubled — from 15,000 IFS
to 30,000 per month
Health-related 2019 (~3.2m) → 2023 (~4.2m) ~1 million increasebenefits IFS
(working-age)
Incapacity benefits 2023–2024 7.0% of working-age population OBR
Note: Data is national and doesn’t yet include county-by-county
comparisons. Further FOI requests are ongoing to explore regional
differences.
What I'm Doing Next
This research is far from over. I’m working to:
- Collect FII referral figures from more local authorities
- Compare figures proportionate to population
- Map these trends against benefit data and public health pressures
- Understand how GPs, schools, and social workers contributed to these referrals
- Analyse how trauma and benefit scrutiny may have shaped safeguarding narratives
- Why This Matters
Behind every FII referral is a family — often already vulnerable.
For many, the trauma of being falsely accused can take years to heal. This isn’t just about statistics — it’s about trust,
justice, and human dignity.
We need:
- Transparency from public bodies
- Compassionate safeguarding practices
- Recognition of complex health needs
- Policy changes that centre lived experience
Share Your Story or Get in Touch
If you’ve been affected by a safeguarding referral involving FII or a perplexing presentation — especially during or after COVID — I want to hear from you.
You can contact me directly:
info@familysupportgroup.info
You can remain anonymous. Every story helps build a clearer picture of what’s happening
across the UK — and why it matters.
Useful Links & Resources
What is Fabricated or Induced Illness? – NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/
PIP and DLA Guidance – GOV.UK
Stat-Xplore (DWP Data Tool)
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml
FOI Guide – What You Can Request
https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request
Health-Related Benefit Trends – IFS
https://ifs.org.uk/publications/recent-trends-and-outlook-health-related-benefits
Rebuilding Families: Journey to Justice
Because being ill, disabled, or traumatised should never be mistaken for being dishonest.
You can then comment: “These figures align with the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and
the aftermath, raising questions about the interplay between health, trauma, labour market
disruption, benefit claims and safeguarding referrals.”
Caveats & things to note
The data do not always break down claims by county or region easily; many statistics
are national.
“Incapacity benefits” is a broad category (including Employment and Support
Allowance (ESA), Incapacity Benefit (IB), etc) and some claims moved across benefit
types over time.
Increase in claims may reflect multiple interacting causes: health deterioration
(including long-COVID), labour market changes, increased awareness or eligibility,
changes in assessment practice. For example, survey evidence shows 59 % of new
disability benefit claimants report multiple long-lasting health problems and 35 %
both mental and physical health issues.
While the upward trend is clear, causation (e.g. COVID → benefits rise →
safeguarding referrals) is not established by these numbers