Claim hub
Understanding your insurance claim.
Claim paperwork is written for adjusters, not homeowners. This hub translates every term — ACV, RCV, O&P, depreciation, loss settlement worksheet — into plain English. Or skip the glossary and upload your estimate to get the whole thing translated at once.
Anatomy of a claim payout
Most homeowners claims pay in this order. Each line is its own opportunity for money to disappear.
- 1
Replacement Cost (RCV)
What it would cost to fix the damage today, brand new.
- 2
− Depreciation
A subtraction for age and wear. Recoverable on RCV policies; permanent on ACV.
- 3
= Actual Cash Value (ACV)
What you'd get if you kept the money instead of repairing.
- 4
− Deductible
Your out-of-pocket. Flat dollar or % of dwelling on wind/hail/hurricane.
- 5
= Net check
The first check the carrier sends — usually the smaller one.
- 6
+ Recoverable depreciation (2nd check)
Released after you finish the work and send proof.
The numbers on your settlement
What is ACV?
Actual Cash Value — what your first check is based on, and why it's smaller than the quote.
What is RCV?
Replacement Cost Value — the full number, paid in two checks if you complete the work.
Recoverable depreciation
The money your insurer holds back until you replace the damaged property.
Why was my claim depreciated?
Finding the depreciation line on your adjuster's estimate.
The paperwork
The line items
When the payout doesn't add up
Why is my payout so low?
The six line items that decide every underpayment.
Insurance only paid half my roof
Recoverable depreciation, ACV, or partial-slope approval — find which.
Underpaid claim?
What to do when the payout is way less than the damage.
Claim denied?
Why claims get denied and how to dispute it.
Skip the dictionary — upload your estimate.
Our AI translates every line, flags missing money, and tells you exactly what to do next.
Keep reading
Why Is My Insurance Payout So Low?
The six declarations-page line items that decide every underpayment.
Read moreAfter a claimInsurance Only Paid Half My Roof
Recoverable depreciation, ACV, or partial-slope approval — find which.
Read moreAfter a claimInsurance Claim Denied?
Why claims get denied and how to dispute it.
Read moreGeneral information, not legal or financial advice. Settlement practices, deadlines, and endorsements vary by carrier and state.