How authority limits work
Each adjuster has a dollar-amount ceiling: typically:
- Entry-level: $5K-$10K
- Mid-level: $25K
- Senior / large-loss: $100K+
- Director / VP: Unlimited within corporate policy
Claims exceeding authority require supervisor approval, which creates internal friction.
How it becomes a tactic
- Claim held at junior authority longer than warranted
- Supervisor approval "pending" for weeks
- Multiple sign-offs required before payment
- Every scope addition requires re-approval cycle
How to counter
- Ask what authority the handling adjuster has
- Escalate to supervisor directly when stalled
- Cite 627.70131 deadlines
- File CRN if escalation pattern is prejudicial