Protection Of Rights And Benefits

TITLE 72 WORKER’S COMPENSATION AND RELATED LAWS — INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION CHAPTER 13 EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW 72-1375. Protection of rights and benefits. (1) Any agreement to waive, release, or commute any right to benefits or other rights under this chapter shall be void. Any agreement by any individual performing services for a covered employer to pay all or any portion of any contributions or penalties required under this chapter from such employer, shall be void. No covered employer shall directly or indirectly make or require or accept any deduction from wages to finance the contributions required from him, require or accept any waiver of any right under this chapter by any individual rendering service for him, discriminate in regard to the hiring or tenure of work or any term or condition of work of any individual on account of his claiming benefits under this chapter, or in any manner obstruct or impede the claiming of benefits. Any employer or officer or agent of an employer who violates any provision of this subsection shall, for each offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor. (2)  No individual claiming benefits shall be charged fees or costs of any kind in any proceeding under this chapter by the commission, the director, any of its or his employees or representatives, or by any court or any officer thereof, except that a court may assess costs if the court determines that the proceedings have been instituted or continued without reasonable ground. Any individual claiming benefits in any proceeding before the department, the commission, or a court may be represented by counsel or other duly authorized agent. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall, for each such offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor. (3)  Any assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of any right to benefits which are or may become due or payable under this chapter shall be void; and such rights to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or an order for the payment of attorney’s fees. Benefits received by any individual, so long as they are not mingled with other funds of the recipient, shall be exempt from any remedy whatsoever for the collection of debts. Any waiver of any exemption provided for in this subsection shall be void. (4)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any action taken pursuant to section 72-1365 (2), Idaho Code.