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181 PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW PENNSYLVANIA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW ARTICLE VII PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND COMPENSATION

Section 701. Certain Agreements Void; Penalty.--No agreement by an employe to waive, release, or commute his rights to compensation, or any other rights under this act, shall be valid. No agreement by an employe or by employes to pay all or any portion of an employer's contributions, required under this act from such employer, shall be valid. No employer shall, directly or indirectly, make or require or accept any deduction from the remuneration of individuals in his employ to finance contributions required from him under this act, or require or accept any waiver by an employe of any right hereunder. Any employer or officer or agent of an employer who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced for each offense to pay a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. (701 amended Nov. 3, 2016, P.L.1100, No.144) Section 702. Limitation of Fees.--No employer or employe shall be charged fees of any kind in any proceeding under this act by the department, the board, or any of its officers or agents. Any individual claiming compensation in any proceeding before the department, the board, or referee may be represented by counsel or other duly authorized agent; but no such counsel or agent shall either charge or receive any greater fee for such services than is approved by the board. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. (702 amended Sept. 29, 1951, P.L.1580, No.408) Section 703. No Assignment of Compensation; Exemptions.--No assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of any right to compensation which is or may become due or payable under this act shall be valid, and such rights to compensation shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy whatsoever provided for the collection of debt. Compensation payments received by an employe, so long as they are not mingled with other funds of the employe, shall be exempt from any remedy whatsoever for the collection of all debts, except debts incurred for necessaries furnished to such individual or his spouse or dependents during the time when such individual was unemployed. No waiver of any exemption provided for in this section shall be valid: Provided, however, That upon receipt of notification, the department shall forward to the Department of Public Assistance benefit checks equal to amount of public assistance paid to an individual for necessaries furnished such individual or his spouse or dependents during the time when such individual was unemployed.