Free Calculator

Claim Underpayment Estimator

Compare the insurance company’s offer against an independent estimate of your covered damage to see a potential settlement gap.

Your Numbers

Independent estimate of covered damage

From a licensed contractor, Xactimate estimate, or public adjuster scope.

Carrier's offer / amount paid so far

Policy deductible

Potential Gap

$27,500

≈ 35.5% below the estimated net value

Estimated covered damage

$80,000

Less deductible

− $2,500

Expected net to you

$77,500

Carrier's offer

$50,000

Potential gap

$27,500

A gap is not a guarantee of additional recovery. Whether more is owed depends on your policy, coverage, and documentation.

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Educational estimate only. This tool does not evaluate coverage, policy language, or the cause of loss, and does not predict any outcome.

Common Reasons Claims Come In Low

Missing line items

Paint, texture matching, trim, code upgrades, or appliance reconnection left out of the estimate.

Below-market unit prices

Pricing that does not reflect local labor and material costs for your area.

Denied matching

Paying to replace damage in one area but refusing to match adjacent undamaged materials.

Unreleased depreciation

Recoverable depreciation never paid because repairs were not documented in time.

More Free Calculators

Public Adjuster Fee

Estimate the contingency fee under the Texas and Florida caps.

Recoverable Depreciation

ACV check now vs. depreciation released after repairs.

Hurricane Deductible

Percentage windstorm/hurricane deductibles on your dwelling limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my insurance claim was underpaid?

Common signs of an underpaid claim include an estimate missing line items (paint, texture, code-required upgrades, matching), unit prices below local market rates, depreciation that was not released, or an offer well below an independent contractor’s estimate. This calculator gives a rough gap between an independent estimate of your covered damage and what the carrier offered, net of your deductible. It is an educational tool, not a guarantee.

What should I use for the “estimated claim value”?

Use the most reliable independent estimate of the covered damage you have — a licensed contractor’s written estimate, a Xactimate estimate, or a public adjuster’s scope. The closer that figure is to the true replacement cost of the covered damage, the more meaningful the gap estimate will be.

A gap shows up — does that guarantee I will recover more?

No. A gap only indicates the carrier’s offer is below an independent estimate; it is not a promise of additional recovery. Whether more is owed depends on your policy language, the cause of loss, coverage, exclusions, and documentation. A licensed public adjuster can review the file and tell you whether the gap is supportable under your policy.

What can I do about an underpaid claim?

Options include submitting a supplemental claim with better documentation, invoking the appraisal clause for a valuation dispute, or (for legal disputes) consulting an attorney. A public adjuster documents the full covered scope, prepares a line-item estimate, and negotiates with the carrier — and can advise whether appraisal or legal counsel is the better path.

Educational Information - Not Legal Advice

The information on this page is for general educational purposes only. Dependable Claims Specialists is a licensed public adjusting firm - not a law firm. Public adjusters help policyholders inspect, document, evaluate, and negotiate property insurance claims, which includes reading and applying your policy in the ordinary course of adjusting (coverage parts, exclusions, endorsements, scope). We do not practice law and we do not provide legal advice. For legal opinions, demand letters, Chapter 542A pre-suit notices, statutory remedies under the Insurance Code, or litigation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Texas public adjusters operate under TX Ins. Code Chapter 4102; Florida public adjusters operate under FL Statute §626.854.

Think Your Claim Was Underpaid?

Send us the carrier’s estimate and we’ll review it line by line — for free. No recovery, no fee.

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