In the ten years since the Coalition Government’s first Budget in June 2010, a lot has changed in the UK’s social security system. Millions of households today claim benefits that did not exist in 2010. They do so in different ways, under different conditions, and often receive different entitlements than a decade ago.

Some reforms, such as the introduction of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment, have produced high-profile public debate. But many others have also affected constituents’ lives and drawn the attention of MPs.

As we approach the anniversaries of many of the early landmarks in this period of welfare reform, the Commons Library is producing a series of briefings exploring the changes. It will include papers looking at the aims of welfare reform, welfare spending, disability benefit reform, changes in how benefits are claimed and paid, employment support and benefit sanctions, and the reform of housing support.

Ten years of welfare reform