Charlotte O'Brien
@cobrien.bsky.social
Professor of Law, University of York (she/her). Social security; EU law; discrimination; migration; social justice.
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
January 30, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Guess what the evidence shows? Disabled people pushed into deeper poverty are pushed *further from, not into, the workplace*.
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
NEW REPORT, PACKED WITH EVIDENCE from community organisations.
www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/wp-content/u...
See here: *Side-stepping international law on the sly: The secret severing of the EU Settlement Scheme from the Withdrawal Agreement*
plus.lexis.com/api/permalin...
Please contact us if you do not have access to the journal and would like to read it!
plus.lexis.com/api/permalin...
Please contact us if you do not have access to the journal and would like to read it!
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
See here: *Side-stepping international law on the sly: The secret severing of the EU Settlement Scheme from the Withdrawal Agreement*
plus.lexis.com/api/permalin...
Please contact us if you do not have access to the journal and would like to read it!
plus.lexis.com/api/permalin...
Please contact us if you do not have access to the journal and would like to read it!
@awelsh.bsky.social and I have a new article out in the Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, official journal of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, exploring how (& asking why?) the UK government persists in undermining EU citizens’ long term Withdrawal Agreement rights.
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
@awelsh.bsky.social and I have a new article out in the Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law, official journal of the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association, exploring how (& asking why?) the UK government persists in undermining EU citizens’ long term Withdrawal Agreement rights.
This is a bizarre tale in which an overreaction to one, apparently unintended, minor, consequence has blown away any supposed security and certainty of the new regime. And results in 'maximum cake' - a scheme that is constitutive when it suits the UK government, and declaratory when it doesn't.
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
This is a bizarre tale in which an overreaction to one, apparently unintended, minor, consequence has blown away any supposed security and certainty of the new regime. And results in 'maximum cake' - a scheme that is constitutive when it suits the UK government, and declaratory when it doesn't.
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
January 5, 2026 at 2:37 PM
New Year Pop Quiz: Which of the 6 million + people with EU Settlement Scheme status has documentary confirmation that they are residing on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
Astonishingly, the UK government's position appears to be: none of them. But wasn’t that the whole point of the EUSS?
The Grand Place in Brussels looking pretty grand - and for the first time I got to see a massive Xmas tree in the process of being decorated (with two mini cranes!). Also did a talk the next day to lawyers, academics and people from the EU Commission, about the exploitation of posted workers btw.
November 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Grand Place in Brussels looking pretty grand - and for the first time I got to see a massive Xmas tree in the process of being decorated (with two mini cranes!). Also did a talk the next day to lawyers, academics and people from the EU Commission, about the exploitation of posted workers btw.
Another gap I commented on is the absence of backdating. Here, SCoSS have quoted my *evidence, drawn from advice-based research*, on periods when the risks of frictional poverty are higher - the immediate aftermath of childbirth being one.
![Screenshot of text from report, quoting O'Brien:
Stakeholders noted that there may be reasons why applications might be slightly delayed. Certain groups, such as single parent families, may be more likely to be affected.
“Dealing with the fallout of various traumas – more likely around the time of childbirth – is also likely to impair [individuals] ability to make timely claims. For vulnerable clients this means missing out on significant sums of money at crucial junctures. Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months. The same approach to the Two Child Limit Payment would be humane, and allow for a small degree of flexibility at a difficult moment. It would also offer some recognition that a new benefit might not be widely known about."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vxxqn7kouglqb3dvecdyzpsf/bafkreietehxi5ieldj3hly3daa6sunpjkkby3hueukle2ysrdanaehax4m@jpeg)
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Another gap I commented on is the absence of backdating. Here, SCoSS have quoted my *evidence, drawn from advice-based research*, on periods when the risks of frictional poverty are higher - the immediate aftermath of childbirth being one.
SCoSS has now published its report. I see the @cpaguk.bsky.social had a similar key concern to me - that the 'top-up' model means that only those already in receipt of Universal Credit will benefit - you need an existing UC award to attach it to
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
SCoSS has now published its report. I see the @cpaguk.bsky.social had a similar key concern to me - that the 'top-up' model means that only those already in receipt of Universal Credit will benefit - you need an existing UC award to attach it to
Did you know that the Scottish Government has immediate plans to introduce a top-up benefit for families in Scotland affected by the UK's two child limit? Short 🧵
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
September 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Did you know that the Scottish Government has immediate plans to introduce a top-up benefit for families in Scotland affected by the UK's two child limit? Short 🧵
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
The Scottish Commission on Social Security scrutinised the draft regulations at pace this summer & I was invited to submit observations
I CANNOT WAIT to talk with @drproudman.bsky.social about her essential new book, ‘He Said, She Said’ as part of @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social, this evening. Expect shocking stories & a massive rallying cry against gender injustice in the legal system. I’m chairing; I’ll try my hardest not to swear.
May 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I CANNOT WAIT to talk with @drproudman.bsky.social about her essential new book, ‘He Said, She Said’ as part of @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social, this evening. Expect shocking stories & a massive rallying cry against gender injustice in the legal system. I’m chairing; I’ll try my hardest not to swear.
Who *wouldn't* want full funding to do a PhD with any of our incredible academics at York Law School? Doing a PhD is so rewarding, and supervising is such a joy. Getting funding is a huge, and increasingly rare, opportunity. And York is LOVELY.
www.york.ac.uk/law/study/fu...
www.york.ac.uk/law/study/fu...
May 20, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Who *wouldn't* want full funding to do a PhD with any of our incredible academics at York Law School? Doing a PhD is so rewarding, and supervising is such a joy. Getting funding is a huge, and increasingly rare, opportunity. And York is LOVELY.
www.york.ac.uk/law/study/fu...
www.york.ac.uk/law/study/fu...
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has published our evidence outlining why a COMPLETE ABSENCE of documentary evidence of rights for EUSS holders in the UK – is a giant problem; *read it here*: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
May 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has published our evidence outlining why a COMPLETE ABSENCE of documentary evidence of rights for EUSS holders in the UK – is a giant problem; *read it here*: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
Third, the very real and present risk of this/future governments stripping away rights from those with SETTLED STATUS, unless they prove it is based on the WA. A Court of Appeal judge yesterday described this risk as ‘fanciful’. It is not. Lack of documentary evidence of rights led to Windrush.
May 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Third, the very real and present risk of this/future governments stripping away rights from those with SETTLED STATUS, unless they prove it is based on the WA. A Court of Appeal judge yesterday described this risk as ‘fanciful’. It is not. Lack of documentary evidence of rights led to Windrush.
First, the issue that has already cropped up (in Fertre; pic of @the3million.bsky.social team intervening). The UK government argues that ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme – *set up to implement the WA* is not a WA residence right, so holders are not entitled to equal treatment.
May 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
First, the issue that has already cropped up (in Fertre; pic of @the3million.bsky.social team intervening). The UK government argues that ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme – *set up to implement the WA* is not a WA residence right, so holders are not entitled to equal treatment.
*Why* does it matter that NOBODY in the UK currently knows whether or not they have Withdrawal Agreement based residence rights? A Court of Appeal judge asked this yesterday. IT MATTERS, as our evidence to the HoL European Affairs Committee explains, for 3 reasons (spolier alert: one is Windrush):
May 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM
*Why* does it matter that NOBODY in the UK currently knows whether or not they have Withdrawal Agreement based residence rights? A Court of Appeal judge asked this yesterday. IT MATTERS, as our evidence to the HoL European Affairs Committee explains, for 3 reasons (spolier alert: one is Windrush):
What do we need to do before creating shiny new UK-EU reset rules? Make existing rules work properly! Our *newly published* response to the HoL consultation highlights a giant problem facing EUSS holders: a COMPLETE ABSENCE of evidence of WA rights. committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
May 15, 2025 at 10:12 AM
What do we need to do before creating shiny new UK-EU reset rules? Make existing rules work properly! Our *newly published* response to the HoL consultation highlights a giant problem facing EUSS holders: a COMPLETE ABSENCE of evidence of WA rights. committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...
How many UK Supreme Court judges do you think ever acted as lawyers for a claimant in a social security case? ZERO. *Extremely nervous* to announce this rather bolshy ('somewhat contentious' and 'robust in tone') piece in the JSSL. I argue there is a 'professional diversity deficit' in UKSC, AND...
March 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
How many UK Supreme Court judges do you think ever acted as lawyers for a claimant in a social security case? ZERO. *Extremely nervous* to announce this rather bolshy ('somewhat contentious' and 'robust in tone') piece in the JSSL. I argue there is a 'professional diversity deficit' in UKSC, AND...
We won the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize for Outstanding Public Policy Impact last night. An inspiring evening, learning about projects making profound differences, highlighting the power of research (see: Yvonne McDermott Rees; @richardmoorhead.bsky.social; and many more)
November 21, 2024 at 11:46 AM
We won the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize for Outstanding Public Policy Impact last night. An inspiring evening, learning about projects making profound differences, highlighting the power of research (see: Yvonne McDermott Rees; @richardmoorhead.bsky.social; and many more)
Noooooooooo?!?!?! 😵😵😵
November 20, 2024 at 8:05 PM
Noooooooooo?!?!?! 😵😵😵
Final post on The Other Place
November 16, 2024 at 12:59 PM
Final post on The Other Place