When do you get the depreciation payment from your insurance company?
Short answer. The depreciation payment usually arrives after the repair or replacement is finished and the insurer receives proof, typically the contractor's final invoice and sometimes photos or a completion certificate. Once coverage is confirmed and the amount is determined and not in dispute, Georgia's claim rules require payment within 10 days, though getting a mortgage company's endorsement can add time.
What triggers the payment
- Your policy has replacement cost terms for the damaged items.
- The work is completed within the policy's time limit.
- You or your contractor send the final invoice, often with completion photos.
- The insurer compares the invoice with the estimate, including approved supplements.
How much it will be
Usually the recoverable depreciation shown on your estimate, but never more than what the work actually cost. If your contract came in below the insurer's estimate, the payment can shrink to match. Approved supplements can add to it.
Who the check is made out to
Typically you, and often your mortgage company if it is listed on the policy. Read mortgage company insurance checks for how endorsement works, because lender processing is a common source of delay.
Common holdups
- A missing or unsigned final invoice.
- Invoice line items that do not match the estimate.
- Work finished after the policy's deadline.
- A pending supplement the adjuster wants to resolve first.
If it is late
Email the adjuster, confirm what was received and when, and ask for a payment date. Keep records of everything. Persistent unexplained delays can be raised with a supervisor or the Georgia Commissioner. The full process is in recoverable depreciation.