Inputs you need for Structured Settlement in Philippines
5 min read
Published April 15, 2026 • By DocketMath Team
Inputs you will need
If you’re considering a structured settlement in the Philippines, DocketMath’s Structured Settlement calculator works best when you first collect a specific set of inputs. In practice, these inputs shape: (1) the payment schedule, (2) the present value assumptions and timing mechanics, and (3) the cash-flow pattern you want to model under jurisdiction PH.
Use this checklist to gather what you’ll need before you run the numbers.
Payment structure & timing
Monetary assumptions (needed for present-value style outputs)
Practical risk controls (so the model matches how you’ll administer it)
Note: This calculator is for scenario modeling, not legal or contractual determination. Even with correct math, outputs depend on the timing and rate assumptions you enter.
Where to find each input
The cleanest way to source these inputs is usually from negotiation documents and the settlement agreement language—not from assumptions alone. Below is a practical mapping for where to locate each input.
Most inputs live in the case file, contracts, or docket entries. Dates usually come from the triggering event notice; rates and caps come from governing documents or statute; and amounts come from the ledger or judgment. Record the source for each value so the run is reproducible.
1) Settlement date, schedule, and installment details
Common places to look:
- Settlement agreement drafts / term sheets
- Compromise agreement provisions (especially the payment clause)
- Payment schedule exhibits or annexes (if your settlement includes one)
Use those documents to fill:
- Settlement date
- Number of installments
- Payment frequency
- First payment timing
- Payment amounts (or the escalation/stepping rule)
- Lump-sum portion (if there’s an immediate component)
- Contingency/survivorship assumptions (if applicable to your modeling)
2) Total settlement amount and currency
Look for:
- The agreed headline settlement figure
- Any breakdown table used in the settlement (whatever categories your settlement uses)
- Clauses that clarify net amounts, carve-outs, or deductions that affect what “total” means in your context
Then set:
- Total settlement amount
- Payment currency
3) Discount rate (modeled assumption)
In many cases, the discount rate is not explicitly stated in the contract; it’s an analytic assumption used to compute present value.
You can choose a discount rate based on:
- your organization’s internal valuation approach, or
- a rate tied to your chosen valuation/financial modeling methodology
Enter:
- Discount rate / assumed rate
Warning: If you pick a discount rate unrelated to your valuation intent (or leave assumptions inconsistent), the present value you get can be misleading—even when installment totals look correct.
4) Escalation rate
Escalation is typically described as:
- annual increases,
- CPI-linked increases, or
- stepped increases (e.g., higher payment amounts after a certain year)
Enter:
- Payment escalation rate (0% for level payments)
Run it
Once you’ve collected the inputs, you can model your scenario using DocketMath.
Enter the inputs in DocketMath and run the Structured Settlement calculation to generate a clean breakdown: Run the calculator.
If an assumption is uncertain, document it alongside the calculation so the result can be re-run later.
Open the tool
Start at:
- /tools/structured-settlement: structured-settlement
Quick input checklist (before you click “Run”)
Example scenario (how outputs change)
Consider two common structures you may want to compare:
| Scenario | Key input difference | Expected output impact |
|---|---|---|
| Level payments | Escalation rate = 0% | Lower variability; present value depends mostly on timing and discount rate |
| Increasing payments | Escalation rate > 0% | Higher later payments; present value can move up or down depending on discount rate and timing |
Timing matters too:
- If you move the first payment earlier (shorter delay), the present value usually increases because cash arrives sooner.
- If you delay payments, present value typically decreases—especially when the discount rate is higher.
Use the results responsibly
Treat calculator outputs as a scenario model, not as an approval or a substitute for professional review. A good workflow is:
- sanity-check whether the installment schedule aligns with the total settlement amount you intend,
- compare level vs. escalating structures, and
- test sensitivity by changing one assumption at a time (e.g., discount rate, timing, or frequency).
If results look “off,” verify:
- installment count vs. timeline (e.g., 10 payments quarterly implies roughly 2.5 years),
- first payment timing (a 30-day start can differ meaningfully from a “start of year” assumption),
- whether total settlement amount reconciles to the installment schedule you entered (plus or minus lump-sum, if applicable).
Pitfall to avoid: A common mismatch is entering a total settlement amount that does not reconcile with the installment table you selected. The calculator will compute results, but the model may represent a different total than you intended.