Illegal aliens are entitled to Illinois Workers Compensation Benefits

The Illinois appellate court recently held in the case of Economy Packing v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission 387 Ill. App. 3d 283 that an illegal alien worker is entitled to receive Illinois Workers Compensation Benefits if he is injured on the job.  In that case the court knew that the illegal alien used false documents to obtain the job,and  by doing so did in fact violate the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act makes it a crime for an employer to knowingly hire an undocumented alien.  The act requires employers to verify that a newly hired person is authorized to work in the United States. It also requires the employer to fire the alien if the employer finds out the employee is illegal or becomes undocumented.

The court in the Economy case awarded substantial benefits to an illegal alien who falsified documents to get a job.

In Illinois if you are injured at work you should be entitled to benefits under the Illiniois Workers Compensation Act.