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Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act Penalty Calculator

Illinois's Freelance Worker Protection Act gives unpaid freelancers real teeth: a court awards double damages on unpaid fees, the greater of $500 or the contract value where the client gave no written contract, and the full contract value per violation for discrimination — plus your attorney's fees and costs.

Payment is due on the contract date, or within 30 days of completing the work. Applies to freelance contracts taking effect on or after July 1, 2024; covers work worth $500 or more (single contract or aggregate within a 120-day period). Construction services are excluded.

Note: this is arithmetic, not legal advice. The Illinois Attorney General can seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation ($10,000 for repeat violations within five years) — but that action belongs to the AG, not to an individual freelancer, so it isn't in the total. Construction services are excluded from the law. Payment claims must be filed within 2 years of the date the final compensation was due.

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Common questions

How much can I recover if an Illinois client does not pay me?

Double damages on the unpaid amount — so $2,000 unpaid yields $4,000 in damages — plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Double damages are a statutory entitlement on a successful payment claim, so the calculator shows the full figure.

What happens if the client never gave me a written contract?

Statutory damages of the greater of $500 or the value of the underlying contract. The Freelance Worker Protection Act applies to engagements worth $500 or more — counting a single contract, or all contracts with the same hiring entity in a 120-day period.

When does Illinois's Freelance Worker Protection Act apply?

Payment is due on the date in your contract, or within 30 days of completing the work if the contract sets no date. The law covers freelance contracts taking effect on or after July 1, 2024. It does not cover construction services, and workers can file with the Illinois Department of Labor or sue within 2 years of the date the final compensation was due.