Making a Claim for Additional Living Expenses

What’s In This Articles

• Introduction
• What Is an Additional Living Expense (ALE)?
• How Much of My ALE Expenses Will be Covered?/a>
• Here is How We Can Help You With Additional Living Expenses

If a fire, hurricane or other covered peril damages your home, you may have to leave your home while it is being repaired. In that case, you may have various extra expenses because of the fire, storm, etc. For instance, you may have to rent a home or stay at a hotel. You will also have to pay for meals. Additionally, you may have to buy clothes that the storm or fire destroyed. Under those circumstances, you will be making a claim for additional living expenses while your home is being repaired.

What Is an Additional Living Expense (ALE)?

When a windstorm or a tornado seriously damages your home, your homeowners’ insurance will cover the damages to your home and personal property. Likewise, renter insurance will cover storm damage to a renter’s property.

Unfortunately, if your home is uninhabitable, you may not live in your home while a contractor repairs your home. 

As a result, you may have to stay at a hotel or rent a house for your family. In addition, you may have to buy restaurant meals, incur travel expenses and expenses related to pet boarding. 

In addition, if the fire reached the bedrooms of your house, much, if not all, of your clothing may have been destroyed. 

As a result, you are now must buy new clothing for yourself and your family to replace the destroyed clothing. 

Consequently, it is important for homeowners who are going to make a claim for ALE expenses to keep their receipts. Of course, this means the receipts for hotel stays, meals, additional travel expenses and new clothing. 

However, under the terms of your additional living expense coverage, your home insurance company will reimburse you for those ALE expenses. 

How Much of My ALE Expenses Will be Covered?

Notably, insurance coverage for ALE expenses has limits. Typically, the coverage limit for ALE expenses is limited to 10 to 20% of the policy limits for dwelling coverage.

Notwithstanding the above, remember, the insurance company will cover ALE expenses over your ordinary expenses. For example, you have to eat every day, incurring food expenses. Therefore, don’t expect your insurance company to pay you 100% of your restaurant meal expenses-you were going to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner anyway. 

In that case, the adjuster may suggest you stay at a hotel in which the rooms have kitchens. In that way, you can justify to the adjuster (and him to his supervisor) why the insurance company should fully reimburse both your rent and your grocery bill. 

Likewise, if you must purchase new clothing, buying expensive clothing from top-of-line brands may raise eyebrows at the insurance adjuster’s office. 

Notwithstanding the above, your homeowners’’ insurance provides you coverage for ALEs that you would typically incur. Therefore, don’t be afraid to stand your ground if the insurance company adjuster is claiming your ALEs are above your standard of living. If you can show him they are well within the way you live do so. 

If You Need a Public Adjuster to Help you with Making a Claim for Additional Living Expenses, Call AllCity Adjusting

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. Consequently, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

Insurance companies undervalue your claim 8 out of 10 times. Moreover, they hire expensive claims adjusters to ensure they maintain a strong profit margin. In addition, they have experienced actuaries that help their team of agents challenge your insurance claim’s validity and value.

We Can Help When You Are Making a Claim for Additional Living Expenses

Having a fire in your home or hurricane means you have already gone through a tumultuous event. However, prepare an accurate and complete record of your ALE expenses so that you get fully paid on that part of your claim. Consequently, preparing an accurate and complete list of ALE expenses can be time-consuming for a homeowner. 

Remember, you can keep your standard of living when your home is inhabitable. Indeed, your ALE insurance for a covered loss means your temporary home can be as comfortable as your damaged home before the fire. Moreover, your additional living expense lets you get the same products and services you enjoyed before the fire or storm. 

At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your claim value. With over 50 years of combined adjusting experience, we know insurance companies and understand where they cut corners. Therefore, we help you build a larger claim, maximize your claim value, and get you back to normal fast.

Don’t get fooled, get the company that gets you more. Call us today at 844.692.3587 or visit our website to find an office near you.