Blog

On October 29, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1232 into law, amending the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act to require employers and insurers to offer claimants the option to receive their workers’ compensation payments via direct deposit. This legislation, which took effect on December 28, 2024, aimed to modernize the payment process, ensuring timely and secure delivery of benefits to injured workers.

Under the new law, employers and insurers are mandated to notify claimants about the direct deposit option as soon as it becomes available or concurrently with the issuance of a Notice of Compensation Payable. Claimants interested in opting for direct deposit must complete a Commonwealth-issued authorization form and return it either by mail or electronically, depending on the options provided by the employer or insurer. All employers and insurers are required to offer the direct deposit option to claimants by December 28, 2025.

Jeffrey Gross, a prominent workers’ compensation attorney of the law firm Gross & Kenny, LLP, played a pivotal role in the creation and passage of this bill. His extensive experience and dedication to advocating for injured workers were instrumental in shaping the legislation to better serve the needs of claimants.

This legislative change reflects Pennsylvania’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency and reliability of workers’ compensation benefit distribution, providing claimants with a more streamlined and secure method of receiving their entitled payments.