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A hated Tory policy has forced almost 200 women to reveal they were raped in order to claim benefits.

The "shocking" figure, revealed for the first time today, prompted fresh calls for the Tax Credits 'rape clause' to be scrapped.

The clause is part of a new regime since April 2017 that says people can only claim Child Tax Credits for their first two children.

There are exceptions for twins, some children who would otherwise be in care or at risk of being in care, or children born of rape.

However, raped mums must prove their ordeal by providing "evidence" in an 8-page government form.

Now HM Revenue and Customs, which administers Tax Credits, has for the first time admitted 190 women went through this process in the policy's first year.

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Today's figures also show 70,620 families in total have had their benefits restricted under the two-child limit - each losing up to £2,780 a year.

SNP MP Neil Gray said the "abhorrent and disgusting" benefit changes have had a "devastating" impact on women as he demanded a review.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss, who has campaigned against the policy, said: "The UK government must scrap the abhorrent two child cap and rape clause now to avoid putting families and survivors of rape through more trauma."

Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Margaret Greenwood said: "These figures are truly shocking.

(Image: AFP)

"The two-child limit is an attack on low income families, is morally wrong and risks pushing children into poverty.

"It cannot be right that the Government is making children a target for austerity, treating one child as if they matter less than another."

Jamie Grier, Director of Development at welfare advice charity Turn2us, said:“We are still contacted by parents, the majority of whom are in-work, fretting over whether this policy means they might consider terminating their pregnancy.

“At a time where child poverty is already soaring upwards, this policy has been directly linked to exacerbating the number of children suffering in the UK."

(Image: Rex)

Work and Pensions Minister Kit Malthouse said: "We keep all our policies under constant review.

"But... the world of welfare should reflect the world of work and that people on welfare should have to take the same decisions as those that are in work.

"That includes making decisions about the number of children that they may or may not have."

He went on: "We are trying to be as sensitive as we possibly can in this.

"At the moment no-one needs to make a specific declaration - we can signpost and assist with people getting the support they need in those circumstances.

"We are obviously very keen to hear from third-party organisations who have been working with those women who are subject to that appalling situation to make sure they get the support that they need."

What is the Tax Credits two-child limit - and what is the rape clause? Date it took force: 6 April 2017 Cut from the benefits bill: £1.2billion a year by 2020 Number of families affected: 71,000 in first year, 515,000 by 2020 What is it? Child Tax Credit, worth up to £2,780 per child per year, is now only paid for the first two children in any family Who's affected: Lower-income families on Child Tax Credit (and equivalent in Universal Credit) with more than two children, where: The third (or later) child is born after 6 April 2017 , or

, The family stops claiming CTC for 6 months or more , then returns to it Who isn't affected: Children already alive, if their parents keep claiming without a long break

their parents keep claiming without a long break Children born through rape

Twins, triplets etc born to families who had one child

Children looked after by a 'friend or family carer'

Children who have been adopted (except by step-parents) What is the rape clause? If a child is born of rape, the child's mum must provide evidence - or expert testimony such as from a counsellor - in an eight-page form to be exempted from the policy.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey - who has wound back many other previous policies - has defended the rape clause claiming it helps women.

She said in April: "What we’re doing is providing extra help where people have got more children that they couldn’t have planned.

"We're providing that extra support - there will be no questions like that [invasive questions] asked from the DWP or from the Treasury.

"And people will be supported and shown to the various other organisations

"And again this could give them an opportunity to talk about, maybe, something that has happened that they never had before.

"So it is potentially double support there. Them getting the money they need and maybe an outlet which they might possibly need."