Additional Living Expense (ALE) is a coverage that may be included with the policy you purchased to insure your home.* It applies after a covered loss when your home is considered not fit to live in. Your policy will pay the actual, reasonable, and necessary increase in your living expense to maintain your normal standard of living while you live elsewhere.

ALE coverage applies for the shortest period of time reasonably required to repair or replace the loss-related damages, or when the maximum amount of coverage for ALE is paid.

When could ALE apply?

Every situation will be different, but ALE may apply in these types of situations: *

• During a major storm, a tree falls on your roof and causes significant damage. While repairs are made, the home is not livable.
• A fire in the home causes major damage and as a result, the home is not fit to live in.
• A less severe fire, such as a kitchen fire, causes smoke damage throughout the home or causes extensive damage in the kitchen.
• Your water heater breaks and damages your home. Since you have no hot water and wet floors, you can't live in the home.
• A lightning strike knocks out power to your home. You can't live in the home because there is no electricity or heat.
• If you live in a manufactured home, a skunk could make its way underneath the home, chew the underbelly, and spray its scent. Due to the unbearable odor, you can't live in the home.
• The threat of an impending disaster, like a forest fire, causes local authorities to require evacuation. Even though your home may not be damaged, ALE may apply because you had to evacuate the home and incurred additional living expenses in the process.

* Policy terms, conditions and amounts of coverage vary and will apply when you have a loss. Please review your policy for complete details and maximum coverage amounts. Examples given are for illustrative purposes only and are not a guarantee of coverage. These situations are examples and not a guarantee of coverage. The facts of each actual loss determine whether ALE coverage applies.

What may be considered ALE?

• Temporary housing costs, like a motel or hotel, renting an apartment, home, mobile home, or travel trailer
• Increased meal costs
• Reasonable moving expenses to and from temporary housing
• Increased utility expenses
• Increased laundry expenses
• Increased transportation expenses
• Pet boarding

Examples of items not typically considered ALE

• Replacement of belongings like toiletries and clothing
• Temporary repairs to your home
• Entertainment expenses while you stay in temporary housing

You have a loss and can't stay in your home. What's next?

1. File a claim. A claims representative will contact you and talk about your loss.
2. Your claims representative will discuss with you whether ALE applies to your situation.
3. The claims representative will ask you for a list of your normal living expenses and what they cost.
4. Keep receipts for the extra expenses you pay for while living outside your home. Give them to your claims representative according to a schedule the two of you have agreed upon.
5. Your claims representative will subtract your normal expenses from the additional costs you incurred, calculate the amount you're due, and issue you a payment if one is owed.