The changes, announced by work and pensions minister Maria Miller,(pictured), will mean parents on income-related benefits who live apart from their children will have to pay £10 rather than £5 a week towards keeping their children fed and housed.
Currently each parent on benefits pays £5 per week in maintenance regardless of how many children they have.
Parents who share the care of their children on a 50-50 basis will also be exempt from paying child maintenance under the new rules, in a bid to offer a fairer deal for those who equally care for their children.
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