820 ILCS 310/21
No payment, claim, award or decision under this Act shall be assignable or subject to any lien, attachment or garnishment, or be held liable in any way for any lien, debt, penalty or damages. The compensation allowed by any award or decision of the Commission shall be entitled to a preference over the unsecured debts of the employer, wages excepted, contracted after the date of the disablement of an employee. A decision or award of the Commission against an employer for compensation under this Act, or a written agreement by any employer to pay such compensation shall, upon the filing of a certified copy of the decision or the agreement, as the case may be, with the recorder of the county, constitute a lien upon all property of the employer within said county, paramount to all other claims or liens, except mortgages, trust deeds, or for wages or taxes. Such liens may be enforced in the manner provided for the foreclosure of mortgages under the laws of this State.
820 ILCS 310/21