Last updated at 1:57 PM on 3rd March 2011 As many as 100,000 migrants from Eastern Europe will be allowed to claim £250-a-week as Europe forces Britain to abolish its restrictions on benefits.
In a move that could cost the British taxpayer tens of millions of pounds, migrants from the former Soviet bloc will be allowed jobseeker's allowance, council tax benefit and housing benefit.
The law changes will come into effect within weeks as the European Union scraps restrictions imposed when eight states joined the EU in 2004, and it leaves Britain powerless to counter the move.
Access: Up to 100,000 people from Eastern Europe will be able to claim benefits if they can show they are looking for work in the UK
Estimates suggested that as many as 100,000 migrants could claim UK benefits from the start of May.
When the Soviet bloc countries joined the EU in 2004 the Office for National Statistics called it 'the largest single wave of in-movement ever experienced by the UK'.
Changes: Damian Green said Germany and Austria will open their labour markets to Eastern Europe
Immigration minister Damian Green pointed out that at the same time that the scheme ended in the UK, countries including Germany and Austria were opening up their labour markets even more to workers from their eastern neighbours.
Only Britain, Ireland and Sweden permitted free access to workers from A8 countries in 2004. It is thought that many will now be attracted to Germany and Austria, which are geographically nearer.
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