If a covered fire makes your home uninhabitable, additional living expense coverage may pay eligible increases in living costs, including temporary housing. Ask the insurer to confirm the allowance, time limits and required receipts before making long-term arrangements.
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699.
What this coverage is
Most homeowners policies include additional living expense coverage, sometimes called loss of use. It pays the increase in your living costs while a covered loss makes the home unlivable: the hotel or rental above your normal housing cost, extra meal costs above your normal food spending, laundry, storage and similar items.
Confirm the terms before you commit
- The daily or monthly allowance and any total limit.
- How long payments can continue and what ends them.
- What receipts and records the insurer requires.
- Whether the insurer pays the hotel directly or reimburses you.
Getting these answers in writing early prevents the most common dispute: costs incurred first and questioned later.
Keep every record
Save every receipt and keep a simple log of each expense and what it replaced. The coverage pays the increase over normal spending, so records of your normal costs matter too.
FAQ
Does insurance cover extra meal costs?
Usually the increase over your normal food spending, when the home kitchen is unusable. Keep receipts and expect to show what meals normally cost you.
How long can temporary housing last?
Until the home is habitable again or the coverage limit or period ends, whichever comes first. The exact terms are in your policy, so confirm them in writing.
Next step
If you are out of your home after a fire, call us before signing anything with the insurer. We handle the living-expense claim alongside the building claim. 845-456-6699. More on fire claims: https://gbclaims.com/fire-damage-public-adjuster/
Have an estimate, denial or repair bill you want reviewed? Contact GB Claims at 845-456-6699 or Claims@GBclaims.com. We’re open 24 hours Sunday through Friday and closed Saturday.
GB Claims LLC is a licensed public adjuster serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
Sources
This page is general educational information, not legal advice or a determination of coverage under your policy. Your policy and state rules control.
Reviewed by the GB Claims claims team, licensed public adjusters in NY, NJ, PA, CT. Last reviewed: October 8, 2026.