This research has forwarded a number of rationales to argue for a modernised social welfare system. It argues for reform from an equality and anti-poverty perspective and points to the need for reforms that enable outcomes which maximise the economic independence of women. The research concludes that social welfare reform is crucial and urgent and driven by the need: • To maximise the economic independence of women; • To achieve a greater worklife balance and greater sharing of caring work; • To ensure that the social welfare system reflects patterns of women’s labour and market participation which are, in turn, influenced by the reality of care in family lives.