Coalition Cuts Timeline

Coalition Cuts on Dipity.

March for the Alternative

Organised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), 'March for the Alternative' will protest against the government's spending cuts.

The TUC claim that the spending cuts will damage public services and put more than a million people out of work.

People have already been campaigning against the cuts in student and school finances. 

The TUC's March for the Alternative will give a national voice to all those affected by the cuts.

The march will be held in London on the 26th March 2011. Starting from Victoria Embankment the march will form between Waterloo and Black Friars Bridge from 11am.

View the map below for the march route.

Housing benefit cuts and you

How will the housing benefit cap affect you? Post your stories and comments below.

Housing benefit to be capped

Housing benefits will be capped at £400 for a four bedroom property by April next year.

The cap will see 21,060 people lose an average of £74 per week.

It is argued that the cap will force people to move out of expensive areas, such as London, into the suburbs.

Housing benefits cost the taxpayer around £20bn a year. The cap will see that people can no longer receive state handouts to live in expensive properties.

The housing benefit caps in April 2011 will stand at:

- £250 for a one bedroom property

- £290 for a two bedroom property

- £340 for a three bedroom property

- £400 for a four bedroom property

Welfare cuts and you

How will the welfare cuts affect you? Post your stories and comments below.

Disabled face £9bn cuts

The Coalition will hit disabled people with £9bn in welfare cuts by 2015.

Families with disabled children currently receive £3,000 each and a disabled adult, whose partner is a full-time carer also receives £3,000. By 2015, these benefits would be withdrawn.

The plan is to move those who are fit to work, onto Job Seekers Allowance instead. The reforms have been criticised by Think Tank Demos, who argue that the benefit reforms will result in long-term unemployment for disabled people.

Rail Fare Increases and you

How have the rail fare increases affected you? post your comments and stories below.

How much will your rail fare increase by?

Rail fares will increase by an average of 6.2 per cent in the New Year.

In one of the largest rail fare increases in years, train operators have hit popular routes with extravagant prices.

Some prices have nearly quadrupled since last year, as many operators have changed train times classifications from 'off-peak' to 'peak', allowing companies to increase their prices without permission from regulators.

Among the hardest hit, are passengers travelling from Bournemouth to London, with increases of up to 6.8 per cent.

For a full list of changes to rail fares click the link here.

VAT increase and you

How has the VAT increase affected you? Post your stories and comments below.

A Guide to the VAT Increase

An increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent, was announced by George Osborne in the 2010 Emergency Budget.

The VAT rise will come into effect on 4th January 2011, as the coalition try to tackle the budget deficit. The increase is hoped to reduce the deficit by £13 billion.

George Osborne has been criticised by the Labour Party for making the increase.

The Chancellor defended the decision to raise VAT and claimed that it will boost employment. 

The Facts:

Effects on Businesses

-The VAT increase affects any VAT registered business that sells or purchases goods or services that are subject to the standard VAT rate

-You should charge the increased rate of VAT (20%) on any sales of standard rated goods or services that you make on or after the 4th January 2011

-You should update your paperwork and your invoices

-You should update your prices

-Returned goods that a customer purchased prior to the increase in VAT should be credited at the previous rate of 17.5%

VAT is not applicable to:

-Food, children's clothing, books, magazines and newspapers

For a detailed guide to the VAT increase visit: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/rate-rise-guidance.pdf