First Homeowners Claim: Insurance Approved Repairs, Then Revoked Them And Slashed Payout - Is That Legal? (il)

This is my first major homeowners claim, and I’m stuck. Back in May a pipe burst and damaged 4 rooms (2 bathrooms, laundry, hallway, and part of a bedroom). State Farm assigned two different companies: one for flooring and one for the rebuild.

• Flooring estimate for ~$7k was approved in June, and the flooring company has been calling to schedule install.
• Rebuild estimate for ~$24k sat untouched all summer. In August, a new adjuster stepped in and paid only $8.5k.
• After I pushed back, she “revised” her numbers. But instead of correcting missing rooms/items, she reversed the $7k flooring approval and depreciated nearly every line of her own rebuild estimate.
• She only added back about $3k from the $7k she took away.

Now I’m left with about $12k total for about $31k worth of work, with maybe a $2k supplement later if I somehow complete the repairs.

My contractor has been of very little help. He did try to speak to her supervisor, but she told him “only the homeowner could speak to the supervisor,” even though I gave him authority to speak on my behalf of them. They are completely ignoring his estimate.

The only thing he suggested was contacting my State Farm agent to ask for a new adjuster. He said he’s never seen anything like this before. The agent is pushing back, and I’m having a hard time getting anywhere.

So my question is: legally, what’s the smartest next step?

I feel like this is retaliatory* because to even get her to move on the revising the estimate I had to threaten a complaint and escalation. It was after I let her know that I would escalate that she depreciated her own estimate and reduced my payout.

Location: Illinois