No assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of any right to compensation which is or may become due or payable under this act shall be valid, and such rights to compensation shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy whatsoever provided for the collection of debt. Compensation payments received by an employe, so long as they are not mingled with other funds of the employe, shall be exempt from any remedy whatsoever for the collection of all debts, except debts incurred for necessaries furnished to such individual or his spouse or dependents during the time when such individual was unemployed. No waiver of any exemption provided for in this section shall be valid: Provided, however, That upon receipt of notification, the department shall forward to the Department of Public Assistance benefit checks equal to amount of public assistance paid to an individual for necessaries furnished such individual or his spouse or dependents during the time when such individual was unemployed.