Structured settlements, or settlements paid out over a period of several years or decades, are commonly seen in life insurance payouts, employee lawsuits and disability compensation. These settlements can offer a steady, reliable source of income that augments your regular income.

But what if you need the money from your settlement now? In many cases, you may be able to sell the rights to your future structured settlement payments in exchange for a lump sum to be paid to you right now. Financial circumstances change all the time, and this is a great option for people who find themselves in these types of situations.

However, there are a great deal of myths that people believe when it comes to getting one’s structured settlement cash now — and few, if any, of them are true. To understand what selling a structured settlement really entails, take a look at this list of the biggest structured settlement myths and the truths behind them:

Myth: When I sell my structured settlement payments, I have to sell all of them.

Fact: This is actually not true. When you sell your structured settlement payments, you get to choose whether you want a full payment, partial payment or shared payment. This allows you to still get all the benefits of regular structured settlement income down the line, but also allows you to receive a lump sum that will help your finances in the present.

Myth: If I sell my structured settlement, much of its value will be lost.

Fact: Again, this is untrue. In fact, inflation often affects many structured settlements — and this can be avoided when you sell these payments for a lump sum and invest them in dependable properties or companies whose value will grow over time.

Myth: It’s expensive to sell structured settlement payments.

Fact: Another myth that has no truth behind it; it’s much more expensive to take out high-interest loans to help you cope with your current finances rather than get a lump sum from your structured settlement. Selling a structured settlement can help you maintain good credit and stay out of debt — and you can’t put a price on that.

Have any other questions for us about selling a structured settlement? Feel free to ask us anything about getting cash for settlements by leaving a comment below. For more information see this.