In a surprising development, we have learned that the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will be closing the Northeast Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Hearing Office (currently located on Grant Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia). This decision came as somewhat of a shock, since only a couple of weeks before, a high ranking source in the Bureau had mentioned that the Northeast Philadelphia office was one of the busiest hearing offices in the entire State. Indeed, that source had revealed that a plan was being discussed to divert some cases from that office to the Center City Philadelphia Hearing Office.
Instead, the Bureau has now elected to close the Northeast Philadelphia office entirely. This means that injured workers who reside in Northeast Philadelphia will have to travel to the hearing office in Center City Philadelphia (at 8th and Arch Streets, not far from the Philadelphia Convention Center).
While this decision is now known to those practicing in the PA workers’ compensation community, no announcement has been publicly made by the Bureau. We are not yet aware of the time frame for the closing of the office. As always, we will notify our loyal readers as soon as additional information is discovered.