Who is Responsible for Paying for Illinois Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Employers are required by Illinois law to pay for workers compensation benefits. They typically pay directly into the state fund, through private insurance, or by completely covering the costs themselves. In some states, employees and employers may share in the costs.

However, in Illinois, no part of the workers' premium or benefit can be charged back to the worker. If you have any questions about who will pay benefits, there should be a notice at your place of employment detailing this information, but you can also check the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) website at http://www.iwcc.il.gov/.

If you are denied benefits, you and your attorney should directly seek an explanation from your employer. Time is of the essence- delays in responding can lengthen the time it will take to receive support. After continued denial, you need to file a claim and request a hearing with the IWCC.

First, you need to understand that you are probably covered by workers' compensation if you are an Illinois employee. More than 90% of all employer workers are entitled to workers' compensation protections according to some estimates. There are really only a few exceptions to this broad requirement including LLC members, sole proprietorships, corporate officials, and a few others. Although, if you want to check, then you can search the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission's (IWCC) website here ( http://www.iwcc.il.gov/) to see if your company offers it. Additionally, you can call their offices at (312) 814-6611.

Companies can face stiff fines for failing to carry insurance or cover workers' compensation claims. For instance, the Illinois government can punish them up to $10,000 for violating the requirements of workers' compensation. While every company is supposed to display their workers' compensation compliance and procedures this does not mean that they will. Therefore, if you feel like they are not or have not abided by their obligations, then you can reach out to the IWCC or our law offices to verify their insurance carrier, coverage options, and other information.

First, you can complete some of the process anonymously. If you think that your employer is violating provisions of workers' compensation law, such as by not carrying insurance to cover workers' injuries, then you can reach out to the IWCC without giving your personal information. If you do decide to file a claim with your company, then you have to submit a description of the incident. Then, it is their responsibility to cover the costs of the work-related injury including hospital bills, rehab expenses, disability payments, and other things that might arise due to the incident.