Insurance Giants Offering Supplemental Crumbling Foundation Funds

HARTFORD, CT — Two large insurance companies have pledged additional funds to assist current and former polcyholders who are stuggling with crumbling foundation issue in north central and eastern Connecticut.

In one of his final announcements as governor Dannel Malloy and Attorney General George Jepsen on Tuesday about supplemental assistance programs set up by The Hartford and Liberty Mutual.

The assistance will help current and former policyholders who file claims to remediate deteriorating concrete foundations through the state's new captive insurance program.

Cracks have been showing up in home foundations in concrete poured in the 1980 and 1990s, according to the the state Department of Consumer Protection. A report has indicated that the mineral pyrrhotite has compromised the concrete. The problem was traded to a north central Connecticut location — Becker's Quarry — as the main source of concrete aggregate for the distributor — J.J. Mottes company. Concrete from the location includes more than trace amounts of pyrrhotite, and is located on a vein of rock that contains significant amounts of pyrrhotite, according to the report.

See the towns affected here.

“The crumbling foundation crisis is a widespread and complex problem that requires all stakeholders to be a part of the solution,” Malloy said. “These commitments from The Hartford and Liberty Mutual represent significant progress for affected homeowners, and I applaud both companies for stepping up."

The Hartford has pledged $3.5 million. Current or past policyholders who have foundation damage and who have also opted to participate in the assistance program being operated through the Connecticut Foundations Solutions Indemnity Company will be eligible for the supplement, Malloy said.

Liberty Mutual has dedicated $7 million to the program, Malloy said.

Participation in the programs will be voluntary.

Consumers with questions can contact the Connecticut Insurance Department at 800-203-3447 or the CFSIC by emailing info@crumblingfoundations.org.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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