Citizens · Already-paid claim
Already paid
$123,002.18
Appraisal award
$150,631.87
Citizens had already paid six figures. We went to appraisal, and Joe served as the homeowner's appraiser.
Even a six-figure check can leave money on the table.
Florida Carrier-Specific Claim Help
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Claim Help
Florida-licensed public adjusters representing policyholders on Citizens property damage insurance claims. Hurricane, water, fire, mold, and roof claims — denied, underpaid, or unresolved.
Dolphin Claims is an independent public adjusting firm that represents policyholders. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
Citizens Property Insurance claims in Florida
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida's state-created insurer of last resort, established under FL Statute 627.351(6) in 2002. As of 2026, Citizens insures over 1 million Florida properties — primarily in coastal and high-risk regions where private carriers have withdrawn or non-renewed.
Why Citizens claims often need a public adjuster
Citizens is structurally different from private carriers — it's a public entity bound by Florida statute, not market competition. In practice this means:
- Strict scope limits driven by legislative funding constraints
- Aggressive enforcement of policy exclusions (cosmetic damage, wear-and-tear, pre-existing damage, "marring")
- The 2022 SB 2A reform stripped one-way attorney fees, removing a major leverage point — public adjusters now do work that previously fell to plaintiff attorneys
- Mandatory inspections within 10 days of loss notice (FL Statute 627.70131(5))
- Managed-repair programs that direct policyholders to Citizens-vetted contractors
Common Citizens denial / underpayment patterns
- Roof age denials. Citizens commonly cites roof age (15+ years on asphalt, 25+ on tile) as cause for denial of hurricane wind claims. Florida's Roof Replacement Rule (FL Statute 627.7011(11)) protects roofs less than 25% damaged from full replacement — but the inverse is also enforced strictly.
- Cosmetic-damage exclusions. Citizens excludes "cosmetic" tile / metal damage from wind. Litigation has repeatedly shown what carriers call "cosmetic" is often functional damage.
- Wind vs. wear-and-tear disputes. Citizens routinely attributes wind damage to wear-and-tear; a public adjuster's documented timeline (date of loss vs. roof condition pre-event) defeats this.
- ACV vs. RCV settlements. Citizens issues ACV (actual cash value) as initial payment; RCV (replacement cost value) requires repairs to be completed and documented. Many policyholders never claim the holdback.
Citizens at a glance
| Type | state backed |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquartered | Tallahassee, FL |
| Florida book | 1.2M+ (peak), reduced via depopulation programs |
| Financial rating | Not rated (state-created insurer of last resort) |
Common Citizens dispute patterns
- Aggressive scope reduction on hurricane roof claims
- Wear-and-tear / pre-existing-damage exclusions on aging roofs
- Mandatory binding arbitration clauses (post-2022 SB 2A)
- 10-day inspection deadlines (FL Statute 627.70131(5))
- Managed-repair program steering on water claims
- Depopulation transitions mid-claim
Citizens results
What happened when Citizens policyholders pushed back
Real Citizens first offers and denials — and the final numbers. No client names.
Citizens · Hurricane Ian · roof · West Palm Beach
First offer
$5,588.21
Appraisal award
$112,797.11
Citizens offered $5,588 for the roof. That wasn't close, so we invoked appraisal — a clause already in most Florida policies that settles the number outside of court.
Before you accept a roof offer, ask about appraisal.
Citizens · Fire + roof · Fort Lauderdale
First payment
$9,113.38
Settled
$74,113.38
Citizens paid $9,113 on a fire claim and refused to pay for the roof. We pushed the claim toward appraisal, working with our partner law firm.
On a fire claim, smoke and soot travel further than you think.
Citizens · Water loss
Denied
Denied · $0
Settled
$38,500
Citizens denied the water claim. Our partner law firm filed suit, built on our claim file.
If your water claim was denied, have it looked at.
Selected claims, not typical results. Every claim is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Case-study narration uses an AI version of Joe Ford's voice. Footage is illustrative, not the client's property.
Frequently Asked Questions — Citizens Claims
Why was my Citizens claim denied or underpaid?▾
Common reasons: roof age cited as wear-and-tear, cosmetic-damage exclusion applied to functional damage, claimed cause of loss disputed (wind vs. age), ACV-only payment without RCV holdback, or scope limited to repair when full replacement is warranted. A public adjuster reviews the policy + denial letter and pursues supplemental, reopened, or appraisal-process resolution.
Can I hire a public adjuster after Citizens has already paid me?▾
Yes. Florida law allows policyholders to hire a public adjuster at any time during the 18-month supplemental-claim window (FL Statute 627.70132). If Citizens paid less than the actual cost to repair, a supplemental claim is the standard remedy.
What is Citizens' inspection deadline?▾
Under FL Statute 627.70131(5), Citizens must conduct an inspection within 14 days of receiving notice of loss. Citizens' internal target is 10 days. Document everything before any inspector arrives — they will document only what they choose to record.
What is Citizens' managed-repair program?▾
Citizens offers a 'managed repair program' on water-damage claims — they choose the contractor and pay them directly. Policyholders can opt out, but Citizens will then settle the claim on their own scope. A public adjuster can negotiate scope independently of the managed-repair contractor's estimate.
Does the 2022 SB 2A reform affect Citizens claims?▾
Yes. SB 2A (Dec 16, 2022) eliminated one-way attorney fees in Florida property insurance disputes, shortened the new-claim window to 1 year, and added mandatory pre-suit notice requirements. The result: more claims now resolve through public adjusters and the appraisal process rather than litigation.
What if Citizens 'depopulates' my policy mid-claim?▾
Citizens depopulation transfers policies to private carriers. If a covered loss occurred under Citizens but the policy was transferred before settlement, the original Citizens policy still applies to that loss. Don't let a transfer letter intimidate you — the contract that was in force at the date of loss governs.
Can a public adjuster invoke appraisal on a Citizens claim?▾
Yes — Citizens policies contain a standard appraisal clause. When the carrier and policyholder disagree on amount of loss (not coverage), either side can demand appraisal. Each side picks an appraiser; the two appraisers pick a neutral umpire. The umpire's signed award is binding on amount.
How much does it cost to hire a public adjuster for a Citizens claim?▾
Contingency 10–20% of the additional recovery — capped at 10% in year one for declared-emergency claims (FL Statute 626.854(11)). No upfront fees. No fee if there's no recovery.
Free Citizens Claim Review
Send us your policy + denial letter. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a supplemental, reopened, or appraisal claim worth pursuing — and what it's likely worth.
Get a free claim review
No upfront cost. Takes about 60 seconds.
Step 1 of 211% done
What happened to your property?
Rather talk? Call (954) 204-9376