How to Document an ALE Claim: The Checklist That Gets You Reimbursed
Garr Russell
CEO, Fireside RV Rental · Updated July 12, 2026
The families who have the smoothest ALE experience aren't the ones with the biggest policies — they're the ones who started a folder on day one. Reimbursement is a documentation exercise, and the disputes I see almost always trace back to a missing baseline or a receipt nobody kept. Garr: the most common documentation mistake you see homeowners make — put it here in one sentence.
Set your baseline first
ALE reimburses the increase over your normal cost of living, so the claim needs a "before" number, not just an "after." On day one, write down what you normally spend on:
- Food (groceries + dining)
- Any commuting/mileage
- Utilities you'll still pay at the damaged home vs. new ones you'll incur
That baseline is what turns a pile of receipts into a defensible "additional" amount.
The running checklist
Keep these from the first day out of the home:
- Lodging — every hotel/rental/RV invoice. Confirm the nightly or monthly cap with your adjuster before you commit.
- Meals — restaurant and grocery receipts (needed against your baseline).
- Pets — boarding invoices, if applicable. (On-site housing usually removes this line entirely.)
- Storage — units rented for displaced belongings.
- Transportation — added mileage if your temporary home is farther from work/school.
- Proof of uninhabitability — photos of the damage and the restoration contractor's timeline.
Make it easy on the adjuster
Two habits speed everything up. First, submit documentation on a regular cadence — organized monthly beats one chaotic batch at the end. Second, use a housing provider that can direct-bill the carrier, so the largest line item never touches your bank account and arrives claim-ready. That's exactly how we work with adjusters; the detail is on the adjuster page, and the ALE housing guide covers how the housing choice shapes the whole claim.
Garr: confirm the specific documentation package you provide adjusters (daily logs? monthly statements? photos?) so we can describe it precisely here.Frequently asked questions
What documentation do I need for an ALE claim?
Keep every receipt for lodging, meals, pet boarding, storage, and extra mileage; document that the home is uninhabitable (photos, the restoration timeline); and establish your normal spending baseline so the 'additional' amount is clear. Confirm lodging caps with your adjuster before booking.
Do I need to save grocery and restaurant receipts?
Yes — because ALE reimburses the increase over your normal food spending, you need both your baseline (what you usually spend) and your temporary receipts to show the difference. Keeping them organized from day one avoids disputes later.
How do I get reimbursed faster?
Submit organized documentation on a regular cadence rather than one large batch at the end, keep the adjuster informed of the repair timeline, and use housing providers that can direct-bill the carrier so lodging never comes out of pocket.