Legal Question in Insurance Law in Florida

House Fire and Reimbursement for Meals and Lodging

I had a house fire at my home in my kitchen. In my initial meeting with the insurance adjuster he indicated he would reimburse my family for meals, after deducting my normal grocery bills from the total for the week. I submitted bills to them for restaurant meals eaten out together with some grocery bills which included some sandwiches purchased for lunches and other food snack items that I usually buy during the week. The insurance company is now refusing to reimburse me for any grocery bills as they are saying it is over and above my normal and customary charges. I disagree. I believe they are double dipping if they are taking out my normal weekly bills. They also indicate that they will not reimburse me for my lodging until I give my brother's social security number, since he is the one who agreed to put my family up during the time of repairs. They say it is IRS rules and not insurance rules that they provide a 1099 to my brother at the end of the year. Is this valid? Also aren't they double dipping my grocery bills? I purchased snacks, etc. and they still took out my normal grocery bills. Please help me understand their stand on this. They refuse to entertain this any further.


Asked on 10/09/08, 3:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

Re: House Fire and Reimbursement for Meals and Lodging

If your brother is allowing you to stay for free, then you have no lodging expense. They can pay you what your would pay in rent if you were staying elsewhere, but the IRS will impute that income to your brother. That is why they need the ss#

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Answered on 10/10/08, 12:57 pm


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