How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form LIBC-378 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Pennsylvania Form LIBC-378 is the “Petition To/For” that any party in a workers’ compensation case files with the Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication when they want a workers’ compensation judge to change, review, reinstate, suspend, or end benefits. It is a single all-purpose petition form, so an injured worker, an employer, an insurer, or a healthcare provider can use the same two-page document to ask a judge to act on a claim. The current version is the one printed LIBC-378 REV 08-20, so check the bottom-left corner of your copy before you start.

If you get the petition type wrong, miss the proof-of-service step, or leave the reason boxes blank, your case can stall for months while you wait for a hearing that never gets scheduled. Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system handles tens of thousands of petitions each year through its online WCAIS portal, and a clean, complete petition moves through that system far faster than one that triggers a request for correction.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📋 What LIBC-378 is, who must file it, and which agency receives it
• 📝 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box, code, and signature block on the form
• 👥 Three full filled-out examples that follow real people through the whole petition
• 📨 How to file online through WCAIS or by mail, with the exact address and proof you keep
• ⚠️ The mistakes that get petitions delayed and how to dodge each one

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

Form LIBC-378 is the Petition To/For used to start litigation before a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation judge. The form lives under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, and it is the tool a party uses when the two sides cannot agree on what should happen with benefits. The petition is filed with the Department of Labor & Industry, Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication, which assigns it to a judge for a hearing.

The form is unusual because one document covers many different requests. The same LIBC-378 can ask a judge to modify, suspend, terminate, reinstate, or review benefits, to order penalties, to set aside a final receipt, or to approve a Compromise and Release settlement.

Three groups file this petition:

• Employees (injured workers) usually file to reinstate stopped benefits, to win penalties for unpaid bills, or to correct a mistake on a notice or agreement.
• Employers and insurers usually file to reduce, suspend, or terminate benefits after they believe a worker has recovered or returned to work.
• Healthcare providers and professionals may file to review medical treatment or billing disputes.

The box at the middle of page 1, This petition is filed on behalf of: Employee / Employer/Insurer / Healthcare Provider/Professional, tells the judge which group you fall into.

Here is the consequence of filing the wrong way. If an insurer simply stops paying without a judge’s order or a signed agreement, the worker can file an LIBC-378 Penalty Petition, and the judge can order up to a 50% penalty on the unpaid amount. The form is the gatekeeper to that relief, so learning it well protects real money.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Filling out LIBC-378 goes faster when you gather your paperwork first. The form asks for ID numbers, dates, and dollar figures that you do not want to guess at, because a wrong number can send your petition to the wrong file or delay the hearing. Pull these items together before you open the form on WCAIS or print it.

Here is your pre-filing checklist:

• Your WCAIS Claim Number. This ties your petition to the existing claim; without it, staff may not match your petition to the right file, which delays the hearing.
• The Date of Injury (MM/DD/YYYY). The judge and the insurer use this to pull the claim; a wrong date can route your petition to the wrong claim entirely.
• Employee Social Security Number or WC ID Number. The form cross-checks the worker’s identity, and a mismatch can hold up processing.
• The insurer or TPA name, NAIC or Insurer code, and claim number. These identify who must respond; leaving them blank means the wrong party may never get served.
• The original accepting document (Notice of Compensation Payable, Agreement, or Supplemental Agreement) with its date, because page 2 asks for that exact date.
• Your Average Weekly Wage and weekly total disability rate. These dollar figures appear on your NCP and frame what is in dispute.
• The date and amount of the most recent compensation payment, which matters for reinstatement deadlines and penalty math.
• Names and addresses of all attorneys, if known, so you can serve them and complete the proof-of-service.
• A short, plain description of the injury and the body part affected, which the form requests in the injury narrative section.
• Your proof-of-service statement, a signed note saying you sent copies to every other party, which must be attached or the petition is incomplete.

If any of these are missing, the most common result is a request from the Bureau to correct and refile, which costs you weeks.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You can get LIBC-378 two ways, and both lead to the same official document. The fastest route is the online WCAIS portal, where you log in, open your existing claim, and start a petition that pre-fills much of your identifying data. The portal then files the petition for you, so you skip the mailing and proof-of-service paperwork that paper filers must complete by hand.

If you prefer paper, download the official LIBC-378 print PDF from the Department of Labor & Industry. You can also find it on the agency’s WCOA forms page, which lists every petition and notice form in the system.

The form is free. There is no filing fee for LIBC-378, no matter how you submit it.

Make sure the copy you use shows REV 08-20 in the bottom-left corner of each page. Older revisions ask for slightly different information, and a judge or Bureau clerk may reject an outdated form. The revision date is your proof that you are using the version the Bureau currently accepts, so confirm it before you write a single answer.

One nuance for self-represented filers: the paper PDF is fillable on a computer, so you can type your answers, save a copy for your records, and print a clean version to mail. Typing beats handwriting because the Bureau scans these forms, and clear text reduces the chance a key number is misread.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out LIBC-378 Line by Line

The form is two pages. Page 1 collects the parties, the action requested, the reason codes, and the injury information. Page 2 collects the compensation history, the supersedeas question, the attorney appearance, the signature, and the filing notice. Work top to bottom and do not skip the boxes that seem obvious.

1. “This petition is filed on behalf of” Box

This box asks who you are in the case: Employee, Employer/Insurer, or Healthcare Provider/Professional. You check the one box that matches your role so the judge knows which side filed.

To answer it, place a single check in the matching box. An injured worker checks Employee; an insurer or company checks Employer/Insurer; a doctor or billing office checks Healthcare Provider/Professional.

For example, Maria Lopez, an injured warehouse worker filing on her own, checks Employee.

A common edge case is a dependent filing after a worker’s death. In that situation the dependent still checks Employee, because the claim runs through the deceased worker’s case, and the dependent’s details go in the “If deceased” line of the Employee block.

The common mistake here is checking nothing at all. If you leave this blank, the judge cannot tell who is asking, and the petition can be returned for correction.

A frequent misconception is that an attorney checks a separate box for “attorney.” There is no such box; the attorney checks the box for the client they represent and enters their own details later in the appearance section.

2. Employee Block (Name, Address, Date of Birth)

This block asks for the injured worker’s identity: First name, Last name, full address, County, Date of birth, and a line for a Dependent/Guardian/Personal Representative if the worker is deceased. It identifies the human being whose benefits are at stake.

Enter the worker’s full legal name as it appears on the Notice of Compensation Payable, write the date of birth as MM/DD/YYYY, and fill in the complete mailing address with county.

For example, Maria Lopez writes her name, her address in Lancaster County, and her date of birth as 03/14/1985.

A nuance: if the worker uses a P.O. Box, use it for mailing, but be ready to give a physical address if the judge’s office asks, since some notices require a street location.

The common mistake is entering a nickname or married name that does not match the NCP. A name mismatch can make staff question whether the petition belongs to the claim, which delays matching.

A misconception is that the address must be the address from the date of injury. It does not; use your current address so you actually receive the hearing notices.

3. Employer Block

This block asks for the employer’s Name, Address, County, Telephone, and FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number). It names the company on the other side of the claim.

Copy the employer’s legal name and address exactly as they appear on your claim documents, and add the FEIN if you have it.

For example, Maria lists Keystone Distribution LLC with its Harrisburg address and the company’s FEIN.

A nuance: if you worked for a staffing agency, the agency is usually the listed employer, not the site where you worked. Use the name on your pay stub or NCP.

The common mistake is guessing the FEIN. A wrong FEIN can route notices to the wrong business record, so leave it blank rather than guess.

A misconception is that the employer block is optional once an insurer is involved. It is not; the employer is still a named party and must be identified.

4. Insurer, Fund, or Third Party Administrator Block

This block asks for the insurance carrier, fund, or TPA that pays the claim. It collects the Name, Address, NAIC code or Insurer code, and Insurer/TPA claim #. The form notes that “FUND” means the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund, Subsequent Injury Fund, Self-Insurance Guaranty Fund, or Pre-Self-Insurance Guaranty Fund.

Enter the insurer or TPA exactly as shown on your benefit checks or NCP, and copy the claim number precisely.

For example, Maria writes Commonwealth Insurance Co., its NAIC code, and the claim # printed on her wage-loss check stub.

A nuance: if your employer was uninsured, name the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund here, because that fund stands in for the missing insurer.

The common mistake is copying the wrong claim number, which scatters your petition away from the correct file and slows the response.

A misconception is that you can skip this block if you do not know the NAIC code. Fill in the name and claim number even without the code, because the name and claim number do the heavy lifting for service.

5. “TO YOUR HONORABLE JUDGE” Action and Date Line

This is the heart of page 1. It reads, “The above petitioner requests the workers’ compensation judge to order the above action as of [date] for the following reason(s).” You enter the effective date you want the action to start, then check the petition type below.

Write the date as MM/DD/YYYY. This is usually the date benefits stopped, the date a problem began, or the date you want relief to begin.

For example, Maria enters 09/01/2025, the date her checks stopped, because that is when she wants benefits reinstated.

A nuance: for a penalty petition tied to ongoing unpaid bills, use the date the violation began, not the date you are filing.

The common mistake is leaving this date blank. Without it, the judge has no anchor for when relief should start, which can weaken or delay your claim.

A misconception is that this date is just “today.” It is the effective date of the relief you seek, which is often weeks or months earlier.

6. Petition Type Checkboxes

Right under the action line, you choose the type of petition by checking one or more of these options:

• Modify compensation benefits (reduce/increase the amount)
• Penalties (for violation of the act, rules, and regulations)
• Reinstate compensation benefits
• Review compensation benefits (ask the judge to review an agreement or notice for mistakes)
• Review compensation benefits offset
• Review medical treatment and/or billing
• Seek approval of a Compromise and Release agreement (ask the judge to approve a settlement)
• Set aside final receipt (ask the judge to set aside an agreement to stop compensation)
• Suspend compensation benefits
• Terminate compensation: Based upon physician’s affidavit, a special supersedeas hearing to be scheduled
• Terminate compensation benefits (employee fully recovered without any disability)

Check the box or boxes that match exactly what you want the judge to do.

For example, Maria checks Reinstate compensation benefits because her checks stopped and she is still hurt. Daniel, an employer’s adjuster, checks Terminate compensation benefits after a doctor says the worker fully recovered.

A nuance: you can check more than one box when your requests are related, such as Review and Penalties together when an insurer underpaid and you want both correction and a penalty.

The common mistake is checking Terminate when you mean Suspend. Termination ends the claim on a finding of full recovery, while suspension only pauses wage loss when a worker returns to work, and choosing the wrong one frames your entire case incorrectly.

A misconception is that Review is a catch-all. Review is for fixing mistakes on an existing notice or agreement, not for asking to restart stopped benefits, which is Reinstate.

7. Reason Codes 1 Through 18

The form lists numbered reasons that explain why the action is justified. You check the codes that fit your facts:

• 1. Full recovery
• 2. Specific job offered
• 3. Work generally available
• 4. Able to return to unrestricted work
• 5. Has returned to work
• 6. Reasonable treatment refused
• 7. Resolution to specific loss
• 8. Incorrect description of injury
• 9. Incorrect average weekly wage
• 10. Medical bills unpaid
• 11. Medical bills not related
• 12. Worsening of condition
• 13. Injury causing decreased earning power
• 14. Section 314 order violated
• 15. Voluntary withdrawal from workforce
• 16. Violation of the act, rules and regulations
• 17. Subrogation, credit or offset for (UC, Social Security, Third party recovery, S&A, Pension)
• 18. Other

Check the number that matches your petition type. The reasons line up with the action you chose above.

For example, Maria checks 12. Worsening of condition to support her reinstatement. Daniel the adjuster checks 1. Full recovery for his termination petition. Andre, a worker owed money, checks 10. Medical bills unpaid and 16. Violation of the act for his penalty petition.

A nuance: reason 17 has sub-boxes for the type of offset (UC, Social Security, Third party recovery, S&A, Pension), so check both the 17 line and the specific sub-box.

The common mistake is checking a reason that contradicts your petition type, such as picking Full recovery on a Reinstate petition. Contradictory codes confuse the judge and undercut your own argument.

A misconception is that you must pick only one reason. You may check several when more than one truly applies, and code 18. Other lets you explain a reason not listed.

8. Injury Information Section

This section asks you to describe the injury. It includes Part of body injured, Nature of injury, an Accident/injury description narrative, and a checkbox for Check if occupational disease.

Write the body part plainly, name the type of injury, and give one or two clear sentences describing how it happened.

For example, Maria writes Lower back, Herniated disc, and the narrative “Lifted a loaded pallet on 06/10/2024 and felt sudden lower-back pain.”

A nuance: check occupational disease only for conditions that build over time from work exposure, like lung disease, not for a one-time accident.

The common mistake is a vague narrative like “hurt at work.” A thin description gives the judge little to work with and may invite the other side to dispute the injury.

A misconception is that you must list every body part you ever treated. List only the parts tied to this work injury, matching the description on your accepting document.

9. Compensation History Block (Page 2)

Page 2 opens with the accepted-liability details: whether benefits Have not been paid, are Being paid, or Have been paid based on a Notice of Compensation Payable, Agreement, Supplemental Agreement, Judge’s order, Board order, or Court order, each with a date. It also asks for the Average weekly wage, the Applicable weekly total disability rate, and the Date of most recent payment with its Amount.

Check the status that fits, then copy the document date and the dollar figures straight from your NCP or agreement.

For example, Maria checks Notice of compensation payable dated 07/01/2024, lists an Average weekly wage $840.00, a disability rate $560.00, and a Date of most recent payment 08/25/2025, Amount $560.00.

A nuance: if more than one document set your benefits, list the most recent one that controls your current rate.

The common mistake is leaving the most-recent-payment date blank on a reinstatement petition. That date proves you are inside the three-year reinstatement window, and missing it can raise a timeliness fight.

A misconception is that these dollar figures are estimates. They are exact numbers from your benefit records, and rounding them can create a dispute over your correct rate.

10. Act 46 and Supersedeas Questions

This block has two parts. One asks if This is an Act 46 (firefighter cancer) claim, and the other asks, Is supersedeas being requested pursuant to Section 413(A.2)? Yes/No, with a line to list reasons if yes.

Check the Act 46 box only for a firefighter cancer claim. For supersedeas, check Yes only if you want benefits paused while the case is decided, and then list your reasons.

For example, Daniel the adjuster checks Yes on supersedeas for his termination petition and writes “Independent medical exam shows full recovery as of 08/15/2025.”

A nuance: supersedeas is mostly an employer/insurer tool to stop paying during litigation; an injured worker filing to reinstate benefits normally checks No.

The common mistake is a worker checking Yes on supersedeas by accident, which makes no sense for a reinstatement and signals confusion to the judge.

A misconception is that checking Yes automatically stops payments. It does not; a judge must rule on the supersedeas request at a special hearing first.

11. Attorney Appearance Block

This section has two sides: PLEASE ENTER MY APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER and COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT (if known). Each side asks for the Attorney’s name, PA attorney ID number, Firm name, Address, and Telephone.

If you have a lawyer, the lawyer completes the petitioner side. If you know the other side’s lawyer, fill in the respondent side so that attorney gets served.

For example, Andre’s attorney enters her name, her PA attorney ID number, and her firm on the petitioner side.

A nuance: if you file on your own with no lawyer, leave the petitioner appearance lines blank; your own name and signature come next.

The common mistake is a self-represented filer writing their own name as the “attorney.” You are not the attorney, so leave those lines blank and sign as the petitioner below.

A misconception is that you must know the other side’s lawyer. You do not; fill in the respondent side only “if known,” and leave it blank otherwise.

12. Signature, Printed Name, and Date of Petition

The last fields are the Petitioner or Representative’s signature, the Petitioner or Representative’s name (typed/printed), and the Date of petition in MM/DD/YYYY.

Sign the form, print your name clearly below the signature, and enter the date you are filing.

For example, Maria signs, prints Maria Lopez, and dates it 09/15/2025.

A nuance: when you file through WCAIS, the electronic submission stands in for the ink signature, but you still confirm the date.

The common mistake is mailing an unsigned petition. An unsigned form is not valid, and the Bureau will send it back, costing you weeks.

A misconception is that the date of petition and the action date are the same. The date of petition is today’s filing date; the action date earlier on the form is when you want relief to begin.

13. The Fraud Warning and Proof-of-Service Notice

The bottom of page 2 carries two warnings you must respect. The first states that filing misleading or incomplete information knowingly and with intent to defraud violates Section 1102 of the Act, 77 P.S. §1039.2, and may bring criminal and civil penalties under 18 Pa. C.S.A. §4117. The second is the filing Notice, which tells you to fill the form out fully, where to mail it, and that a proof-of-service must be attached.

Read both. Answer every question truthfully, and prepare your signed proof-of-service before you file on paper.

For example, Andre attaches a signed statement saying he mailed copies of the petition to the insurer and its attorney on 09/15/2025.

A nuance: WCAIS handles service for you electronically, so the separate proof-of-service is mainly a paper-filing requirement.

The common mistake is mailing the petition with no proof-of-service. Without it, your petition is incomplete and may not be docketed for a hearing.

A misconception is that the fraud warning only applies to big lies. Even a knowing, intentional omission can violate Section 1102, so complete the form honestly and fully.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three filled-out walkthroughs show how different filers complete LIBC-378 from top to bottom. Each one follows a named person through the most important fields.

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez files to reinstate stopped benefits. Maria hurt her back at a warehouse, was paid for a year, then had her checks cut off though she is still in pain.

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Filed on behalf of	Employee
Employee block	Maria Lopez, Lancaster County address, DOB 03/14/1985
Employer block	Keystone Distribution LLC, with FEIN
Insurer block	Commonwealth Insurance Co., NAIC code, claim # from check stub
Action date	09/01/2025 (date checks stopped)
Petition type	Reinstate compensation benefits
Reason code	12. Worsening of condition
Injury information	Lower back, herniated disc, lifted a loaded pallet
Compensation history	NCP dated 07/01/2024, AWW $840.00, rate $560.00
Supersedeas	No
Signature/date	Maria Lopez, 09/15/2025

Scenario 2: Andre Bell files a penalty petition for unpaid medical bills. Andre’s accepted injury is settled as ongoing, but the insurer stopped paying his physical-therapy bills.

Form Section	What Andre Enters
Filed on behalf of	Employee
Employee block	Andre Bell, Allegheny County address, DOB 11/02/1979
Insurer block	Liberty TPA Services, claim # from EOB
Action date	07/01/2025 (date violation began)
Petition type	Penalties
Reason codes	10. Medical bills unpaid; 16. Violation of the act
Injury information	Right shoulder, rotator cuff tear
Compensation history	Being paid; AWW $1,020.00
Attorney appearance	Petitioner’s attorney name and PA ID number
Proof-of-service	Signed statement attached (paper filing)

Scenario 3: Daniel Reyes, an adjuster, files to terminate benefits after full recovery. Daniel represents the insurer, and an independent medical exam says the worker fully recovered.

Form Section	What Daniel Enters
Filed on behalf of	Employer/Insurer
Employee block	The injured worker’s full legal name and address
Insurer block	Daniel’s carrier, NAIC code, claim #
Action date	08/15/2025 (date of full recovery per IME)
Petition type	Terminate compensation benefits (employee fully recovered)
Reason code	1. Full recovery
Compensation history	Being paid; rate copied from NCP
Supersedeas	Yes — “IME shows full recovery as of 08/15/2025”
Attorney appearance	Defense counsel name and PA ID number
Signature/date	Daniel Reyes, 08/20/2025

How to File the Completed Form

LIBC-378 can be filed online or by mail, and there is no filing fee either way. Choose the channel that fits how your claim is set up.

File online through WCAIS. Log in to the WCAIS portal, open your claim, and start a petition. The system pre-fills your data, serves the other parties for you, and time-stamps your filing. Processing is the fastest this way, and your proof-of-filing is the confirmation screen and the petition that appears in your WCAIS case file, so save or print it.

File by mail. Print the completed LIBC-378 PDF, sign it, attach your signed proof-of-service, and send the original to the Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication, 1010 N. Seventh St, Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA 17102-1400. You must also send a copy to every other party and to their attorneys if known. Your proof-of-filing is your certified-mail receipt plus a copy of everything you sent, so mail it certified and keep the green card.

There is no fax or in-person fee channel that replaces these two; the WCOA expects either an electronic filing through WCAIS or a mailed original with proof-of-service. If you have questions while filing, the Bureau’s Claims Information Services line is 800.482.2383 (toll-free inside PA) or 717.772.4447.

Whichever channel you pick, keep a complete copy of the signed petition and every attachment. If a dispute later arises over whether you filed on time, that dated copy and your mailing or WCAIS receipt are your proof.

What Happens After You File

After the Office of Adjudication receives your petition, it assigns the case to a workers’ compensation judge and the other side is served. The judge’s office then mails or posts a notice of the first hearing or a telephone conference, usually within a few weeks. You should watch your mail and your WCAIS inbox closely, because missing a hearing notice can cost you the case.

If you checked Yes for supersedeas, the judge schedules a special supersedeas hearing first to decide whether benefits pause during litigation. Otherwise, the case moves into the normal schedule, where both sides present evidence, medical testimony, and depositions.

The judge eventually issues a written decision. On a penalty petition, for example, the judge can order the insurer to pay the past-due amount plus a penalty of up to 50% if the judge finds a violation of the Act. Either side can appeal a judge’s decision to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, which reviews the record for legal error.

Keep treating with your doctors and keep records during this whole period. The medical evidence in your file is often what decides whether a judge grants or denies the relief you asked for on the form.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Small errors on LIBC-378 cause big delays. Here are the mistakes that trip up filers most often, and what each one costs you.

• Choosing the wrong petition type. Picking Terminate instead of Suspend misframes your case and can sink it.
• Leaving the action date blank. The judge has no anchor for when relief begins, which weakens your request.
• Skipping the reason codes. With no reason checked, the petition does not explain why the judge should act.
• Using a name that does not match the NCP. A mismatch makes staff question whether the petition fits the claim, delaying matching.
• Copying the wrong WCAIS claim number. Your petition lands away from the correct file and stalls.
• Guessing the FEIN or NAIC code. A wrong code can misroute notices to the wrong record.
• Estimating the average weekly wage or rate. Rounded figures invite a fight over your correct benefit rate.
• Forgetting the proof-of-service on a mailed filing. The petition is incomplete and may not be docketed.
• Mailing an unsigned petition. An unsigned form is invalid and gets returned, costing weeks.
• Confusing the date of petition with the action date. Putting today’s date where the effective date belongs distorts when relief starts.
• A vague injury narrative. “Hurt at work” gives the judge nothing and invites a dispute.
• A worker checking supersedeas “Yes” by mistake. It signals confusion and makes no sense on a reinstatement.

Do’s and Don’ts

These quick rules keep your petition clean and credible before the judge.

Do:

• Do confirm you have the REV 08-20 version, because the Bureau may reject an outdated form.
• Do copy numbers straight from your NCP, since exact figures prevent rate disputes.
• Do check every box that truly applies, because related requests can be combined in one petition.
• Do file through WCAIS when you can, as it serves the parties and time-stamps the filing for you.
• Do keep a dated copy of everything, since that copy is your proof of timely filing.
• Do mail certified with a proof-of-service, so you can show the petition was complete and served.

Don’t:

• Don’t guess at ID numbers, because a wrong FEIN or claim number misroutes your petition.
• Don’t leave the action date empty, since the judge needs to know when relief should begin.
• Don’t sign in someone else’s name, as a false signature can raise a Section 1102 fraud issue.
• Don’t mix up Terminate and Suspend, because each frames the case differently.
• Don’t skip the proof-of-service when mailing, or the petition will not be docketed.
• Don’t miss a hearing notice, since a missed hearing can end your case before it is heard.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many workers can complete LIBC-378 alone, but workers’ comp litigation gets complex fast. Here is how filing pro se compares to hiring a workers’ compensation attorney.

Pros of filing on your own:

• You save the attorney fee, which is typically 20% of your benefits, because no lawyer is paid from your award.
• You control the timing, since you file the moment you are ready without waiting on a firm.
• You learn your own case, which helps you spot problems early.
• The form is free, so the only cost is your time.
• Simple petitions are doable alone, such as a clear penalty petition for plainly unpaid bills.

Cons of filing on your own (pros of hiring help):

• A lawyer knows which petition type fits, because choosing wrong can sink a strong case.
• Attorneys gather medical evidence, which often decides whether a judge grants relief.
• Counsel handles depositions and hearings, where pro se filers struggle with procedure.
• Fees are capped and judge-approved, so the 20% is regulated, not open-ended.
• You usually pay nothing up front, since most workers’ comp lawyers work on contingency and recover costs from the employer if they win.

FAQs

Do I have to pay a fee to file LIBC-378?

No. There is no filing fee for LIBC-378, whether you file online through WCAIS or mail the paper original to the Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication in Harrisburg.

Can one LIBC-378 cover more than one request?

Yes. You may check more than one petition type and more than one reason code when your requests are related, such as combining Review and Penalties on a single petition.

Do I write my current address or the one from my date of injury in the Employee block?

No. Do not use the old address; enter your current mailing address so you actually receive hearing notices and the judge’s decision.

Should a self-represented worker fill in the attorney appearance lines?

No. Leave the petitioner appearance lines blank if you have no lawyer; you are not the attorney, so just sign and print your name as the petitioner below.

Is the “date of petition” the same as the action date on page 1?

No. The date of petition is the day you file; the action date is the earlier effective date when you want the relief to begin, like the day your checks stopped.

Do I check “occupational disease” for a one-time accident?

No. Check occupational disease only for conditions that build over time from work exposure, such as lung disease, not for a single injury event like a fall.

Can I file LIBC-378 to reinstate benefits years after they stopped?

Yes. You may file to reinstate within three years of the date of your last compensation payment under Section 413 of the Act, so the most-recent-payment date matters.

Do I need a proof-of-service if I file through WCAIS?

No. WCAIS serves the other parties for you electronically, so the separate signed proof-of-service is mainly required when you file the paper version by mail.

Should I check “Terminate” if the worker just went back to work?

No. Use Suspend when a worker returns to work; Terminate is for a finding of full recovery, and choosing the wrong one misframes the whole case.

Can checking supersedeas “Yes” stop my payments right away?

No. A judge must rule on the supersedeas request at a special hearing first, so checking Yes does not automatically pause benefits.

Is it okay to leave the NAIC or insurer code blank if I don’t know it?

Yes. Fill in the insurer name and claim number even without the code, because the name and claim number are what get the right party served.

Can a judge order a penalty if my benefits were stopped without an order?

Yes. On a penalty petition, a judge can order the unpaid amount plus a penalty of up to 50% if the judge finds the insurer violated the Act.