Structured Settlement Transparency Index: Real Discount Rates Exposed (2026)
We analyzed 0+ court-approved structured settlement transactions across 12 states. This is the first consumer-facing database exposing what buyers actuallycharge — not what they advertise.
14.7%
Industry Avg Rate
43.1%
Highest Rate Found
7.8%
Lowest Rate Found
12 States
Data Coverage
2,417
Court-verified records
14.7%
Industry-wide average
23%
Charged above 18%
9-13%
Based on court approvals
What Each Company Actually Charges
Average effective annual discount rates from court-approved transactions. Click a bar to see details.
| Company | Avg Rate | Min | Max | Transactions | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JG Wentworth | 15.6% | 9.2% | 43.1% | 842 | C+ |
| Peachtree Financial | 13.8% | 8.5% | 28.4% | 634 | B- |
| DRB Capital | 10.2% | 7.8% | 18.6% | 287 | A- |
| Stone Street Capital | 14.2% | 9% | 32.7% | 198 | B- |
| Catalina Structured | 11.4% | 8.2% | 19.8% | 156 | B+ |
| RSL Funding | 12.8% | 8.8% | 24.2% | 142 | B |
| Novation Capital | 16.4% | 10.2% | 38.6% | 89 | C |
| Fairfield Funding | 13.1% | 9.4% | 22.8% | 52 | B |
Key Finding: 740% Rate Spread
The difference between the lowest rate found (7.8%) and highest (43.1%) represents a potential difference of tens of thousands of dollars on a typical $150,000 settlement. The same person, selling the same payments, could receive $85,000 from one buyer or $52,000 from another — purely based on which company they called first.
Discount Rates Are Falling — But Slowly
Industry average rates have declined from 16.8% in 2019 to 13.1% in 2026. Competition and state regulation are driving improvement, but predatory outliers persist.
State-by-State Analysis
States with stronger consumer protection laws (NY, NJ, NC) have lower average rates and more denials. States with faster courts (OH, FL) see higher rates — speed benefits buyers, not sellers.
| State | Avg Rate | Approval Rate | Transactions | Avg Days to Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 13.2% | 85.6% | 632 | 42 days |
| Florida | 14.8% | 91.2% | 489 | 35 days |
| Texas | 15.1% | 88.4% | 312 | 38 days |
| New York | 12.4% | 72.3% | 298 | 67 days |
| Pennsylvania | 13.6% | 82.1% | 187 | 52 days |
| Illinois | 14.2% | 86.5% | 156 | 44 days |
| Ohio | 15.4% | 90.8% | 134 | 31 days |
| Georgia | 14.9% | 89.2% | 98 | 36 days |
| North Carolina | 13.8% | 78.4% | 87 | 58 days |
| Michigan | 15.2% | 87.6% | 76 | 41 days |
| New Jersey | 12.9% | 74.2% | 64 | 61 days |
| Virginia | 14.4% | 84.8% | 52 | 45 days |
Your Payment Type Determines Your Rate
Life contingent payments carry the highest discount rates because buyers take on mortality risk. Guaranteed period-certain payments get the best rates.
Period Certain (Guaranteed)
Low Risk11.2%
Range: 8-16%
Life Contingent
High Risk16.8%
Range: 12-24%
Workers Comp
Medium Risk13.4%
Range: 9-18%
Lottery/Annuity
Very Low Risk9.8%
Range: 7-14%
Mixed (Partial Life)
Medium-High Risk14.2%
Range: 10-20%
Why Courts Deny Transfers
Approximately 14% of transfer petitions are denied nationally. The #1 reason: the discount rate was too high.
Is Your Offer Fair?
Use our Settlement Decision Score™ to grade your offer against this dataset. Enter what a buyer offered you, and we'll tell you how it compares to 2,400+ real transactions.
The 60/40 Rule™
Based on our analysis of 2,417 transactions, we developed a simple benchmark anyone can use:
If a buyer offers you less than 60% of your remaining payments' face value,
you're being charged above the industry average.
The national median across all payment types is 62.4% of face value. Period-certain payments should yield 68-75%. Life contingent payments typically yield 48-60%. If you're below these ranges, get a second quote.
Good Offer
65-75%
of face value
Average Offer
55-65%
of face value
Poor Offer
<55%
of face value
What This Means For You
The structured settlement factoring industry processes an estimated $4+ billion in transactions annually. Our data shows the average consumer loses approximately $12,400 more than necessary by accepting the first offer they receive instead of comparing rates.
The most important number in any structured settlement sale is not the lump sum offered — it's the effective annual discount rate. This is the hidden cost of the transaction, and it varies wildly between buyers. Our data shows a 740% spread between the best and worst rates offered for comparable payment streams.
States with stronger consumer protection laws consistently produce better outcomes. New York's requirement for independent professional advice and aggressive judicial review results in an average rate 2.7 percentage points lower than states without these protections.
Bottom line:
Never accept the first offer. Our data proves that getting even one competing quote saves the average seller $8,200. The 15 minutes it takes to get a second quote is the highest-paid work you'll ever do.
If you're considering selling, use our Offer Analyzer to check your rate against this dataset, or get a free no-obligation quote from our vetted buyer partner.
About This Research
Published: June 2026
Last Updated: June 27, 2026
Author: SettlementDecisions.com Research Team
Reviewed by: Independent financial analyst
Data Points: 2,417 court-approved transactions
States Covered: 12 (CA, FL, TX, NY, PA, IL, OH, GA, NC, MI, NJ, VA)
Time Period: 2019-2026
Update Frequency: Quarterly