No, December 31 is not the deadline. Eligible claims in the Hearthside child labor settlement must be filed by November 20. The case involves a $4.5 million settlement reached in January 2025 between Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the Illinois Department of Labor, and Hearthside Food Solutions over alleged child labor violations at Illinois food plants, according to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Anyone who may qualify should act before the November date, not the end of the year.
Official resource:
- Read the official notice from Illinoisattorneygeneral — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- Who qualifies for payment?
- Why is November 20 the date that matters?
- How much will eligible workers receive?
- How do you file before the deadline?
Who qualifies for payment?
You may qualify if you worked at any Hearthside facility in Illinois while under age 16 at any point from March 1, 2020 to December 4, 2024. That coverage includes workers hired through temporary staffing agencies.
Only Illinois facility work during that period counts. Work at Hearthside plants outside Illinois does not qualify, even if the worker was under 16. Check these points before you file:.
- Illinois Hearthside location
- Under age 16 while doing that work
- Work date between March 1, 2020 and December 4, 2024
- Direct hire or temporary agency hire both count
Why is November 20 the date that matters?
November 20 is the filing cutoff, not December 31. The Attorney General's 2026 reminder urges eligible former child workers to submit compensation claims before that November date.
The court-supervised settlement site gives the same instruction. It states that any person who worked at an Illinois Hearthside facility while under 16 during the 2020-2024 period may be entitled to a benefit and should file online, according to the Hearthside settlement administrator. Waiting until December could mean losing eligibility.
How much will eligible workers receive?
There is no fixed payment amount. Payment is a pro-rata percentage of the claimant fund based on time worked while under 16, according to the settlement FAQ. That means longer periods of covered under-16 work result in a larger share.
Shorter periods result in a smaller share. Payments are scheduled to follow in January-March 2027 for timely claims with supporting documentation. Late or incomplete filings risk missing that payment window.
How do you file before the deadline?
Claims are filed through the Atticus Administration online portal. Submit the claim form with supporting documentation by November 20, 2026.
Free help is available from Chicago Workers' Collaborative at 630-824-7724. Personal information is kept confidential, and immigration status does not affect eligibility.