(a) Waiver of rights void. No agreement by an employee to waive, release or commute his rights to benefits or any other rights under this chapter shall be valid. No agreement by an employee or by employees to pay all or any portion of an employer's contributions required under this chapter 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 in order to finance the contributions required from such employer, or require or accept any waiver by an employee of any right hereunder.
(b) Limitation on fees and costs. Registration of and rules of conduct for authorized agents. (1) Neither the administrator nor his representatives nor the board and its referees nor any court or officer thereof shall charge or tax any fees or costs against any employee or employer in any proceeding regarding claims for benefits under this chapter, except the record fee on appeal to the Appellate Court; but when any appeal is taken to the Superior Court from the finding of the board and such appeal is found by said court to be frivolous, said court may tax costs in its discretion against the appellant. (2) Any party to any proceeding before the administrator, an examiner, a referee or the board, may be represented by an attorney or authorized agent; but no attorney or authorized agent for an individual claiming benefits shall charge or receive for such services more than that amount approved by the administrator, or by the examiner, subject to revision by the administrator, by the referee or by the board before whom the proceedings are held, as the case may be. (3) No authorized agent may represent any party before a referee or the board for a fee unless the agent is registered with the board. The board shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, containing rules for the conduct of authorized agents, including, but not limited to, individuals, organizations and businesses, that provide representation to parties before a referee or the board for a fee. The regulations shall require the registration of all such authorized agents in such manner as the board deems appropriate and shall establish penalties, including a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation and revocation of registration, for the failure of any authorized agent to follow the rules of conduct established by the board. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to affect the practice of authorized agents representing parties before a referee or the board for a fee prior to the effective date of such regulations.
(c) Limitations on assignment or garnishment of benefits. Except as provided in subsection (h) of section 31-227, no assignment, pledge or encumbrance of any rights to benefits which are or may become due or payable under this chapter shall be valid; and such rights to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment or any other process for the collection of debt until such benefits have been actually received by the employee. No waiver of any exemption provided for in this subsection shall be valid.
(1949 Rev., S. 7542; P.A. 74-339, S. 31, 36; P.A. 82-361, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 29, 82; P.A. 91-250, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 74-339 replaced references to commissioners with references to the board and its referees; P.A. 82-361 amended Subsec. (c) to allow the garnishment of benefits for child support obligations, as provided in Sec. 31-227; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to supreme court and substituted appellate court in lieu thereof in Subsec. (b); P.A. 91-250 amended Subsec. (b) by changing the term “counsel” to “attorney” and making technical changes in Subdiv. (2) and adding Subdiv. (3) re registration of and rules of conduct for authorized agents, effective July 1, 1992.
Cited. 128 C. 220.
Cited. 17 CS 146; 42 CS 376.
Subsec. (b):
Effect on the speed and fairness of the resolution of contested claims. 175 C. 269. Cited. 192 C. 581.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 567 - Unemployment Compensation
Section 31-222. - Definitions.
Section 31-222a. - “District” defined. Continuation of commissioners in offices.
Section 31-223. - Application of chapter to employers.
Section 31-223a. - Employers not subject to chapter. Notification to employees.
Section 31-224. - Municipal and other public employees.
Section 31-226a. - Discharge, discipline, penalty or discrimination prohibited. Right of action.
Section 31-228. - Benefit for total unemployment.
Section 31-229. - Benefit for partial unemployment.
Section 31-230. - Benefit year, base period and alternative base period.
Section 31-231. - Total unemployment benefit rate.
Section 31-231a. - Total unemployment benefit rate.
Section 31-231b. - Maximum limitation on total benefits.
Section 31-232. - Maximum limitation on total benefits.
Section 31-232a. - Additional benefits payable during periods of substantial unemployment.
Section 31-232b. - Extended benefits: Definitions.
Section 31-232c. - Applicability of chapter.
Section 31-232d. - Eligibility conditions.
Section 31-232e. - Weekly extended benefit amount.
Section 31-232f. - Total extended benefit amount.
Section 31-232g. - Public announcements and computations by administrator.
Section 31-232h. - Additional benefits payable, when.
Section 31-232i. - Administrator's duties with respect to federal act.
Section 31-232j. - Extended benefits payable from Unemployment Compensation Fund.
Section 31-232k. - Interstate claims for extended benefits.
Section 31-233. - Temporary extended-duration benefits.
Section 31-234. - Dependency allowances.
Section 31-235a. - Methods of payment by nonprofit organizations.
Section 31-236. - Disqualifications. Exceptions.
Section 31-236a. - Eligibility of apprentice unemployed due to labor dispute.
Section 31-236c. - Ineligibility of certain board of education employees.
Section 31-236d. - Eligibility of individual in training approved under the Trade Act of 1974.
Section 31-236e. - Basis for determination of eligibility. Regulations.
Section 31-236f. - Information re the availability of unemployment compensation benefits. Procedure.
Section 31-237. - Employment Security Division.
Section 31-237a. - Definitions.
Section 31-237b. - Employment Security Appeals Division established.
Section 31-237e. - Employment Security Appeals Division personnel, payment, appointment.
Section 31-237f. - Disqualification of board member; challenge; replacements.
Section 31-237g. - Powers of Employment Security Board of Review, rules of procedure.
Section 31-237h. - Access of appeals division to records of the Employment Security Division.
Section 31-237i. - Referee section established. Appointment of referees; chief referee.
Section 31-237j. - Appeals to referee section; jurisdiction, venue; panel of referees.
Section 31-239. - Advisory council.
Section 31-240. - Claim procedure. Filing.
Section 31-241. - Determination of claims and benefits. Notice, hearing and appeal. Regulations.
Section 31-243. - Continuous jurisdiction.
Section 31-244a. - Procedure on appeals; hearings; rules of evidence; record.
Section 31-245. - Authority to administer oaths and issue subpoenas.
Section 31-246. - Enforcement of subpoena.
Section 31-247. - Witness fees. Payment of expenses of proceedings.
Section 31-248a. - Transfer of case from referee to Employment Security Board of Review.
Section 31-249d. - Disqualification of referees and board members as advocates.
Section 31-249e. - Decisions of board and referees. Methods of issuance. Notice of appellate rights.
Section 31-249h. - Regulations defining “good cause”.
Section 31-250. - Administration. Duties and powers of administrator.
Section 31-250a. - Advisory board. Membership. Functions and duties.
Section 31-251. - General regulations.
Section 31-252. - Public distribution of law, regulations and reports.
Section 31-253. - Delegation of authority.
Section 31-254. - Records and reports. State directory of new hires. Disclosure.
Section 31-254a. - Wage and claim information to national directory of new hires.
Section 31-255. - Reciprocal agreements with other states.
Section 31-256. - Application for advances to Unemployment Trust Fund.
Section 31-257. - Repayment of benefits on receipt of retroactive pay.
Section 31-258. - Repayment of benefits on receipt of workers' compensation.
Section 31-259. - Employment Security Administration Fund.
Section 31-260. - Transfer of funds authorized by federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.
Section 31-261. - Unemployment Compensation Fund. Payment of administrative expenses.
Section 31-262. - Deposits of contributions. Payments to United States Treasurer.
Section 31-263. - Withdrawals of funds for payment of benefits and reimbursement of advance fund.
Section 31-264. - Management of fund upon discontinuance of or changes in Unemployment Trust Fund.
Section 31-264a. - Unemployment Compensation Advance Fund.
Section 31-264b. - Issuance of unemployment compensation revenue bonds.
Section 31-265. - Interest on contributions not paid when due.
Section 31-266. - Collection of contributions. Lien. Foreclosure.
Section 31-266b. - Disposition of real or personal property taken by foreclosure.
Section 31-266c. - Abatement of contributions. Compromises.
Section 31-268. - Adjustment of errors.
Section 31-269. - Refunds and deficiencies.
Section 31-272. - Protection of rights and benefits.
Section 31-274a to 31-274f. - Nonprofit organizations.
Section 31-274g. - Cooperation with other states for enforcement of law.
Section 31-274h. - Publication of unemployment compensation information.
Section 31-274i. - Information to be provided re earned income credit program.
Section 31-274j. - Voluntary shared work unemployment compensation program.