How are you paid? Who gets the check? Do you need to replace items immediately?

Learn here.

After a disaster, you want to return to normal as soon as possible, and your insurance company wants that, too! You may get multiple checks from your insurer as you make temporary repairs, permanent repairs, and replace damaged belongings.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Claims Payments

The initial payment isn’t final

In most instances, an adjuster will inspect the damage to your home and offer you a certain sum for repairs based on the terms and limits of your homeowners insurance policy. The first check you get from your insurance company is often an advance against the total settlement amount, not the final payment.

If you’re offered an on-the-spot settlement, you can immediately accept the check. Later, if you find other damage, you can reopen the claim and file for an additional amount. Most policies require claims to be filed within one year of the date of the disaster. Check with your state insurance department for the laws that apply to your area.

You may receive multiple checks

When your home’s structure and personal belongings are damaged, you generally receive two separate checks from your insurance company, one for each damage category. If your home is uninhabitable, you’ll also receive a check for the additional living expenses (ALE) you incur if you can’t live there while it is being repaired. If you have flood insurance and experience flood damage, you will also receive a separate check for that.

Your lender or management company might have control over your payment

If you have a mortgage on your house, the check for repairs will generally be made out to both you and the mortgage lender. As a condition of granting a mortgage, lenders usually require that they are named in the homeowners’ policy and that they are a party to any insurance payments related to the structure. Similarly, if you live in a co-op or condominium, your management company may have required the building’s financial entity to be named a co-insured.

This is so the lender (and, in the case of a co-op or condo, the overall building), who has a financial interest in your property, can ensure that the necessary repairs are made.

When a financial backer is co-insured, they must endorse the claims payment check before you can cash it.

Depending on the circumstances, lenders may also put the payments in an escrow account and pay for the repairs as the work is completed. Show the mortgage lender your contractor’s bid and let the lender know how much the contractor wants up front to start the job. Your mortgage company may want to inspect the finished job before releasing the funds to pay the contractor.

If your home has been destroyed, the settlement amount and who gets it are driven by your policy type, its specific limits, and the terms of your mortgage. For example, part of the insurance proceeds may be used to pay off the balance due on the mortgage. How the remaining proceeds are spent depends on your own decisions, such as whether you want to rebuild on the same lot, in a different location, or not rebuild at all. These decisions are also driven by state law.

Your insurance company may pay your contractor directly

Some contractors may ask you to sign a “direction to pay” form that allows your insurance company to pay the firm directly. This form is a legal document, so you should read it carefully to avoid assigning your entire claim to the contractor. When in doubt, call your insurance professional before you sign. Assigning your entire insurance claim to a third party takes you out of the process and gives control of your claim to the contractor.

When work is completed to restore your property, make sure the job has been completed to your satisfaction before you let your insurer make the final payment to the contractor.

Your ALE check should be made out to you

Your check for additional living expenses (ALE) has nothing to do with repairs to your home. So, ensure this check is made out to you, not your lender. The ALE check covers your hotel expenses, car rental, meals out, and other expenses you may incur while your home is being fixed.

Your personal belongings will be calculated on cash value first

You’ll have to submit a list of your damaged belongings to your insurance company (having a home inventory will make this a lot easier). Even if you have a replacement value policy, the first check you receive from your insurer will be based on the cash value of the items, which is the depreciated amount based on the age of the item. Why do insurance companies do this? It is to match the remaining claim payment to the exact replacement cost. If you decide not to replace an item, you’ll be paid the actual cash value (depreciated) amount for it.

To get replacement value for your items, you must replace them

Most insurance companies require you to purchase replacements to get fully reimbursed for damaged items. Your company will ask for copies of receipts as proof of purchase, then pay the difference between the cash value you initially received and the total cost of the replacement with an item of similar size and quality. You’ll generally have several months from the date of the cash value payment to purchase replacements; please let your agent know the timeframe.

In the case of a total loss, where the entire house and its contents are damaged beyond repair, insurers generally pay the policy limits according to the laws in your state. That means you can receive a check for what the home and contents were insured for at the time of the disaster.

Source:  Insurance Information Institute

Read Other Blog Posts

Drowsy

Preventing Drowsy Driving

Every year, the National Sleep Foundation organizes Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while fatigued.
Smoke Detector

Daylight Saving Time Change: A Perfect Reminder to Check Your Smoke and CO Detectors

Daylight savings time is a perfect opportunity to keep your home safe by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Time change days are memorable markers, making it easy to establish this habit without any extra reminders.
Flooding

Why Flood Insurance is Essential: Lessons from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

The devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have shown that flood risk isn’t limited to coastal areas. These storms have highlighted a crucial gap that individuals and businesses need to be aware of: flood damage is generally not included in typical home, condo, renters, or commercial property insurance, making a separate flood insurance policy essential for true protection.
Deer

Defensive Driving to Avoid Deer Collisions

With deer mating season in full swing from October through December, drivers face an increased risk of collisions. As deer are more active, especially around dawn and dusk, habitat loss has pushed them closer to roadways. Here’s how defensive driving can help you avoid an accident.
Driving Car

Factors Affecting Your Car Insurance Rate

The cost of auto insurance is influenced by a wide range of factors. Together, these variables shape the overall cost of auto insurance. With this in mind, it can be helpful to better understand how the following elements may impact your rates:
Insurance Policy

Why Personal Liability Insurance is Essential for Homeowners, Condo Owners, and Renters

An essential part of home, condo & renter coverage often overlooked is personal liability insurance, which provides financial protection if you’re legally responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to another person, both on and off your property.
Spam Phishing Scam

Recognize Spam and Phishing Emails

As more of our daily lives move into cyberspace, hackers, cybercriminals and spam bots may lurk behind every new message that shows up in your inbox. Even robust spam filters may not be able to catch every unwelcome email. Fortunately, you can act as an additional line of defense for yourself and your electronic devices by understanding the warning signs of spam and phishing emails.
Distracted Driving

How Distracted Driving and Texting Impact Your Auto Insurance Premiums

One major reason for auto insurance premiums going up is the rise in distracted driving, especially texting while driving. Distracted driving has become a leading cause of accidents, pushing up costs for insurance companies and, ultimately, leading to higher premiums for all drivers.
Apartment living room

Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation

Taking a trip and exploring the world is fun, but leaving your home unoccupied has some risks.  Before departing, protect your property from accidents and criminals by considering the following precautions.

Visit Our Homeowners Insurance Page

Homeowners Insurance

At Murphy Insurance, we take great care in assessing your options for homeowners insurance to ensure that you receive the most favorable value. Our dedication to serving you entails collaborating with highly-rated insurance providers and conducting comprehensive assessments of available choices. Our goal is to achieve the ideal equilibrium between affordability and coverage that suits your unique needs. Please let us provide you with a customized homeowners insurance quote.