Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XXVII. Labor and Human Rights § 341.470.Protection of rights and benefits; representation in proceedings before a referee or the commission

(1) No agreement by a worker to waive, release, or commute his rights to benefits or any other rights under this chapter shall be valid. No agreement by any worker to pay any portion of a subject employer's contributions, required under this chapter from such subject employer, shall be valid. No subject employer shall directly or indirectly make or require or accept any deductions from wages to finance the subject employer's contributions required of him. In cases involving awards to a worker by an arbitrator, court, or other administrative body or mediator, the secretary may require the employer to withhold benefits paid under this chapter from the award and pay the amount withheld into the unemployment insurance trust fund. All subject employers are required to notify the Office of Unemployment Insurance prior to paying any back pay award.

(2) No worker claiming benefits shall be charged fees of any kind in any proceeding under this chapter by the commission, the secretary, or his or her representatives. Any worker claiming benefits in any proceeding before a referee or the commission may represent himself or herself or may be represented by counsel or other agent duly authorized by such worker and shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in the proceeding without restriction; but no counsel or agent shall either charge or receive for such service more than an amount approved by the commission.

(4) No assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of any right to benefits due or payable under this chapter shall be valid; and such rights to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy for the collection of debt. Benefits received by any worker, as long as they are not mingled with other funds of the recipient, shall be exempt from any remedy for the collection of all debts except debts incurred for necessaries furnished to such worker or his spouse or dependents during the time such worker was unemployed. No waiver of any exemption provided for in this subsection shall be valid.

(5) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to child support deductions made in accordance with KRS 341.392 and withholding for federal and state income tax in accordance with KRS 341.395.