Structured settlements are designed to provide long-term financial security for people whose lives have been permanently altered by injury, illness, or loss. That security does not exist by chance. It is the result of decades of advocacy, legal safeguards, and education working together to protect settlement recipients and the systems that support them.
As the industry moves toward 2026, structured settlement advocacy remains central to preserving this stability and ensuring these protections continue to serve their intended purpose.
What Is Structured Settlement Advocacy
Structured settlement advocacy focuses on protecting the legal, tax, and regulatory framework that allows structured settlements to function as a long-term financial security tool. It supports policies and practices that prioritize predictability, court oversight, and consumer protection.
Advocacy ensures that structured settlements remain aligned with the needs of injured individuals and their families rather than being treated as short-term financial transactions.
Why Structured Settlement Advocacy Still Matters
Structured settlements rely on clear legal standards and oversight to remain effective. Federal tax treatment, qualified assignment rules, and court involvement help ensure payments are stable and protected over time.
These safeguards exist because of sustained advocacy efforts. Without continued attention, structured settlements can be misunderstood or placed at risk as broader policy discussions evolve. Advocacy helps preserve the original intent of structured settlements and reinforces their role as a long-term financial solution.
How Federal Law and Oversight Support Structured Settlements
Federal legislation and court supervision provide the foundation that allows structured settlements to operate consistently across jurisdictions. These frameworks help protect settlement recipients from unnecessary risk while offering clarity to attorneys, insurers, and courts involved in the settlement process.
Bipartisan support has historically played a key role in maintaining these protections. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have recognized the value of structured settlements in supporting injured individuals and reducing long-term reliance on public assistance programs.
What Current Industry Signals Indicate About Structured Settlements
The continued use of structured settlements across personal injury, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases reflects ongoing trust in their effectiveness. Industry activity reinforces that structured settlements remain relevant, practical, and widely relied upon.
Importantly, this continued adoption demonstrates that structured settlements are still meeting their core objective: aligning financial resources with long-term needs in a secure and predictable way.
What to Expect for Structured Settlement Advocacy in 2026
As legal, regulatory, and economic conditions continue to evolve, advocacy will remain essential. Education, collaboration, and vigilance help ensure structured settlements continue to function as intended while adapting responsibly when necessary.
Looking ahead, advocacy efforts will remain focused on preserving protections, supporting informed decision-making, and maintaining confidence in structured settlements as a trusted financial security option.
NSSTA’s Role in Structured Settlement Advocacy
NSSTA continues to support education, collaboration, and protection across the structured settlement industry. As the voice of the industry, the association works to preserve the framework that safeguards settlement recipients and promotes long-term financial security.
Advocacy is not about change for its own sake. It is about reinforcing what works, strengthening protections, and ensuring structured settlements remain a reliable solution well into the future.
“At its core, structured settlement advocacy is about protecting people and preserving the long-term security they depend on. That responsibility remains central to our work as the industry moves forward.”
— Eric Vaughn, Executive Director, NSSTA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of structured settlements
Structured settlements are designed to provide long-term, predictable financial support for individuals who have experienced serious injury, illness, or loss.
Why is advocacy important in structured settlements
Advocacy helps preserve the legal and regulatory protections that allow structured settlements to remain secure, tax-advantaged, and court-supervised.
Who does structured settlement advocacy protect
Advocacy protects settlement recipients, their families, and the integrity of the structured settlement system itself.
