Individuals Performing Community Service Not Employees of County

In W. Mooney v. WCAB (County of Schuylkill) the Claimant was performing community service painting a church when he fell and hurt his arm. The WCJ, Board and Court held the Claimant was not an employee of the County.

The Claimant agreed he received no wages and the County received no benefit from his services, but the Claimant argued he was working under the control of the County coordinator on site and he received mitigation of his sentence for completion of community service.

The Court held the Claimant was not performing services for valuable consideration. Although his sentence was mitigated for participating in community service, this was his option and a function of his sentence imposed by the Common Pleas Court, not a benefit provided by the County.