820 ILCS 305/23
No employee, personal representative, or beneficiary shall have power to waive any of the provisions of this Act in regard to the amount of compensation which may be payable to such employee, personal representative or beneficiary hereunder except after approval by the Commission and any employer, individually or by his agent, service company or insurance carrier who shall enter into any payment purporting to compromise or settle the compensation rights of an employee, personal representative or beneficiary without first obtaining the approval of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as aforesaid shall be barred from raising the defense of limitation in any proceedings subsequently brought by such employee, personal representative or beneficiary.
A minor death beneficiary, by parent or grandparent as next friend, may compromise disputes and may enter into and submit a settlement contract or lump sum petition, and upon approval by the Commission such settlement contract or lump sum order shall have the same force and effect as though such minor had been an adult.
820 ILCS 305/23