# Mahmood refuses to put cost on care worker settlement climbdown

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mahmood-refuses-to-put-cost-on-care-worker-settlement-climbdown/
- Published: 2026-11-03T11:03:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T23:07:09+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm75pgqdyzldo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Politics

## Key points

- Mahmood revised settlement plans for foreign care workers.
- More than 500,000 people will still face delays.
- A minister estimates at least £1bn in near-term welfare savings.

## Summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has revised plans to lengthen the wait for permanent settlement for foreign care workers already in the UK, after opposition from some Labour MPs. She would not put a total cost on the changes, but said the revised package would still save billions of pounds because other groups will wait longer to settle.

Under the original proposal, most migrants would wait 10 years rather than five, with some facing 15 years; the Home Office said this could save £10bn. Under the revision, care workers who arrived before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 can still qualify after five years, while some others can seek a further five-year visa before applying. The number delayed from gaining permanent residency has fallen from almost 800,000 to just over 500,000. A Home Office minister estimated welfare savings of at least £1bn over the next couple of years, with further calculations to come.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.