Immigrants in Utrecht can get a free haircut together with an explanation in Turkish or Moroccan about the welfare payments for which they can apply.
The SVB (the national insurance agency) wants to promote the supplementary pension payments this way, since only 37,000 used their rights to these benefits, and there are 15,000 more who deserve them.
The payments are meant for immigrants, mostly Moroccans and Turks, who came to the Netherlands at a later age.
The free haircut and explanation is currently being test-run in Utrecht. If more elderly immigrants apply for welfare, the 'welfare-hairdressers' will be employed in other cities as well.
SVP spokesperson Petra Boon says that the agency is responsible to inform people of their rights regarding welfare.
The hairdressers are employed by the SVB, and come a couple of afternoons a week to community centers.
Source: Elsevier (Dutch)
