(a) As used in this Section, “recipient” means any person receiving financial assistance under Article IV or Article VI of this Code, receiving health care benefits under the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or receiving health care benefits under the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act or the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act of 2008.
     (b) If a recipient maintains any suit, charge or other court or administrative action against an employer seeking back pay for a period during which the recipient received financial assistance under Article IV or Article VI of this Code, health care benefits under the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or health care benefits under the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act or the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act of 2008, the recipient shall report such fact to the Department. To the extent of the amount of assistance provided to or on behalf of the recipient under Article IV or Article VI, health care benefits provided under the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or health care benefits provided under the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act or the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act of 2008, the Department may by intervention or otherwise without the necessity of assignment of claim, attach a lien on the recovery of back wages equal to the amount of assistance provided by the Department to the recipient under Article IV or Article VI, under the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Act, or under the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act or the Veterans’ Health Insurance Program Act of 2008.