What ALE covers
- Hotel / temporary rental (the delta above normal housing cost)
- Meals out (the increase over your normal grocery cost)
- Additional transportation
- Pet boarding
- Laundry / dry cleaning
- Storage of contents
- Furniture rental
- Utility hookups at temporary residence
- Internet / phone at temporary residence
What ALE doesn't cover
- Your continuing mortgage / rent
- Your normal utility bills
- "Lifestyle upgrade" costs
- Entertainment unrelated to displacement
The "additional" principle
ALE pays additional expense: the delta over normal cost of living. If you usually eat at home for $600/month and now spend $1,200 eating out, the $600 delta is covered, not the full $1,200.
Period of restoration
- Starts at displacement
- Ends when home is habitable
- Extended ALE often available (30-60 days post-return)
- Policy typically caps at 24 months
Documentation
- Receipts for every claimed expense
- Mileage log for transportation
- Hotel or lease copies
- Utility transfer records
- Pet boarding invoices
Common disputes
- Hotel rate deemed "too expensive"
- Meal-cost "normal" share disputed
- ALE capped before habitability restored
- Period of restoration disputed