While the insurer assesses your claim, the business still has bills to meet.
- Some non-bank lenders can fund within 2 business days of a complete application, usually against property or business assets
- Loans from $100K to $5M, assessed on your business and security, not on the claim
- Retailers, hospitality venues, warehouses, manufacturers, builders and trades after fire, flood, storm or theft
- Funds repairs, replacement equipment, new stock, rent and wages while the claim runs its course
- Full-doc (tax returns), low-doc or alt-doc (BAS, bank statements or an accountant's letter instead), with no-doc possible against property
The fire, flood, storm or break-in has happened, the claim is lodged, and the insurer is still working through it. Staff still expect their pay, suppliers want their accounts cleared, and the premises or equipment need fixing before you can trade properly again. Insurance claim delay finance is business finance that carries those costs while you wait. It is assessed on your business and the security you can offer, not on the claim, so the loan has to work even if the payout is late, smaller than expected or declined. Settled With Joe is a finance broker only. We do not arrange or advise on insurance or claims; your insurer, insurance broker or lawyer handles the claim. Joseph Farhat and his team look at the funding: what you need, by when, and what lenders can offer.
Who we can help access finance
- A restaurant closed for repairs after a kitchen fire, with chefs and floor staff still on the payroll.
- A warehouse operator whose stock was damaged in a flood, with customers still expecting their orders.
- A manufacturer with a storm-damaged roof and machinery that has to be replaced before production restarts.
- A builder whose tools, plant and site container were stolen, while a project deadline keeps running.
- A retailer restocking after a break-in, with its busiest trading weeks coming up.
- A business owner whose claim is taking longer than planned and who needs rent and wages covered for a few more months.
How Insurance Claim Delay Finance Works
This finance does not depend on the claim. Lenders look at the business as it stands: how it traded before the event, what it can earn while it recovers, the security available, and how the loan will be repaid. Many owners intend to clear the loan from the payout when it arrives. We do not arrange finance that relies on that payout. Lenders want a way to repay that does not need the payout, such as repaying from trading, refinancing to a longer term or selling an asset, and the repayments have to be affordable if the payout is late, reduced or never comes.
A short-term loan or line of credit can cover wages, rent and stock. Equipment finance spreads the cost of replacement machinery, secured by the new equipment, and property security supports larger amounts. Non-bank loans can move quickly; bank facilities take longer and usually cost less. Since the payout may clear the loan early, early repayment costs matter too. Joseph Farhat and his team match each cost to lenders on our 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist panel.
We are a finance broker, not an insurance broker or a lawyer. We do not comment on whether a claim will succeed, what it is worth or how to deal with the insurer. Your insurer or insurance broker can tell you whether an advance on the claim is available. Any advance reduces the amount left to finance. If the business may not be able to pay its debts as they fall due, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner first.
What Lenders Assess for Insurance Claim Delay Finance
Trading before the event
business bank statements, BAS and turnover from before the loss show what the business earns in normal conditions.
The recovery plan
how long repairs or restocking will take, when full trading resumes, and what income continues in the meantime.
Repayments without the payout
whether the loan can be met, and cleared, if the payout is late, smaller than expected or declined.
Use of funds
quotes for repairs, replacement equipment and stock, plus a schedule of wages and rent.
Security
property, vehicles, equipment or other business assets. Unsecured facilities usually still need a director's personal guarantee, which can reach personal assets.
Existing commitments
current loans, equipment finance, the ATO position and any arrangements made with suppliers since the event.
The Insurance Claim Delay Finance Process: What to Expect
- Tell Joseph Farhat and his team what happened, what has to be paid and by when, and where the claim is up to as your insurer has explained it.
- Send recent business bank statements and BAS, quotes for repairs, equipment or stock, and details of current loans and available security.
- We set out the options from the panel: lender, limit, rate, fees, security, early repayment costs and the plan if the payout is delayed or reduced.
- You review the written terms with your accountant, and with your lawyer where property or a guarantee is involved, before you sign.
- Funds are released at settlement, or drawn as costs fall due where the facility is a line of credit. We stay in contact while the claim progresses, so the loan can be repaid, extended or refinanced as things change.
Indicative Finance Options
| Lender Type | Indicative Rate | Security | Typical Loan Range | Loan Term | Speed to Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | From ~7.5% p.a. | Property security usually required | $100K to $5M | 1 to 5 years, or revolving | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Non-Bank Lenders | From ~12% p.a. | Property, equipment or business assets | $100K to $3M | 3 to 24 months | Within 2 business days |
| Private Finance | From ~1.2% per month | Property security | $100K to $5M | 1 to 12 months | Available for unique scenarios |
Indicative figures only. Actual rates and terms depend on your project, financial position, property location, and lender assessment at the time of application. Rates are subject to change.
Why borrowers choose Settled With Joe for insurance claim delay finance
We represent you, not the lender
Joseph Farhat and his team act for your business from the first call after the event through to settlement.
The claim stays with the right people
your insurer, insurance broker or lawyer handles the claim, and we handle the finance.
Built to stand without the payout
we look for repayments the business can meet even if the claim takes longer or pays less.
Other security after damage
where premises or equipment are damaged, we know which lenders take other property, vehicles or business assets instead.
Enquiries kept to a minimum
every credit enquiry is recorded on your file, so we start with a lender whose policy suits a business rebuilding after a loss.
A panel of 90+ lenders
bank, non-bank, and specialist, compared on how each treats damaged security and interrupted trading.
Private finance for unique scenarios
where bank and non-bank lenders are not the right fit, we can introduce you to private finance options.
Usually no direct cost to you
as a broker we are typically paid by the lender on settlement.
An honest answer early
if wages are due soon, the claim has months to run and the business may not be able to pay its debts, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner first. Then tell us what is due and when, and we will say what is realistic.
Frequently asked questions
What is insurance claim delay finance?
It is business finance that keeps a business running, and pays for repairs, restocking and replacement equipment, while an insurance claim is being assessed. It can be a short-term loan, a line of credit, equipment finance or a property-secured loan. It is a separate contract from your insurance. The lender assesses your business and your security, and the loan must be repaid whatever happens with the claim.
Can I borrow against my expected insurance payout?
We do not arrange finance that relies on the expected payout. A claim can be delayed, reduced or declined, and the loan stays in place either way. Lenders on the panel assess your trading, your security and how the loan is repaid without the payout. If a payout does arrive, the loan may be repaid early under its own terms, so early repayment costs are set out before you sign. Joseph Farhat and his team show each option with and without the payout.
How long does an insurer have to decide a claim?
It depends on the policy. The General Insurance Code of Practice in force is the 2020 Code, last updated in October 2023. A redraft consulted on in mid 2026 is not in force. The Code's claims part does not apply to wholesale insurance. Retail insurance is a short list of policy types, such as motor vehicle and travel cover, held by an individual or a small business (fewer than 20 employees, or 100 for a manufacturer). Other policies are wholesale. Many business property, fire, theft and business interruption policies are likely to be wholesale. Where the claims part does apply, the insurer says within 10 business days what information it needs and how long it expects to take. It decides within 10 business days of having everything, and within 4 months of receiving the claim, or tells you about its complaints process. Exceptions allow up to 12 months, such as an extraordinary catastrophe. Whether these timeframes cover your policy depends on the policy type, so ask your insurer or insurance broker.
Can the insurer pay part of the claim before it is decided?
In some cases. Where the claims part of the Code applies to your policy and you show an urgent financial need, the insurer can fast-track the claim, pay an advance within 5 business days, or both. Your insurer or insurance broker can tell you whether this is available on your claim. Any advance reduces the amount left to finance, and Joseph Farhat and his team will size the loan around what remains.
Where can a complaint about an insurance claim go?
The Code points customers to the insurer's complaints process, and to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). We do not comment on claims or disputes. Your insurance broker or a lawyer can explain the options for yours.
What happens to the loan if the payout is late or smaller than expected?
The loan carries on under its own terms, which is why the repayments must be affordable without the payout. If the claim is running late, tell your lender as soon as you know. Some lenders will extend, and others will need a refinance, which adds cost. Joseph Farhat and his team stay in touch through the term and work through the options with you. If the shortfall means the business may not be able to pay its debts, speak with your accountant or a registered insolvency practitioner.
Can I get claim delay finance with low-doc or no-doc?
In many cases. Lenders care most about trading before the event, and commonly accept BAS, business bank statements or an accountant's letter in place of financial statements that a major loss may have left out of date. Bigger unsecured loans usually need fuller records. With property as security, no-doc is possible at a higher rate. A home offered as security is at risk if the loan is not repaid, so get independent legal advice first.
Do you work with borrowers with bad credit?
Yes, we do. A default, arrears or a judgment on a credit file does not rule the business out, and you can talk to us about it openly. A listing says little about how the business traded before the event or how it is placed to recover. Several lenders on our panel weigh pre-event trading, the security on offer and a clear repayment plan more heavily than the credit report, and will price for the risk rather than decline it. Raise it at the start, so the file goes first to a lender that will consider it and no extra enquiries are added to your file. Joseph Farhat and his team will tell you honestly what is achievable before you apply anywhere.
Why work with Settled With Joe to arrange your insurance claim delay finance?
Because a single conversation takes the place of several applications. The owners and directors who call us here are trying to keep trading after a loss: staff to pay while the doors are shut, stock to replace before customers drift away, machinery to reorder, or a claim moving slower than planned. We hear these situations often, and nobody is judged for being in one. Lenders focus on pre-event trading, security and a repayment plan that holds without the payout. With 90+ bank, non-bank, and specialist lenders on the panel, a complete file can be placed with a bank for a lower rate, and a pressing deadline still has somewhere to go. The business is Sydney-based and helps clients right across Australia. Joseph Farhat and his team will say early, and plainly, what can be done in your timeframe.
Do you give financial advice?
No. We do not guide you on your finances, nor give financial advice. We focus on outcomes and solutions of presenting your unique scenario to the right lender so you can access funding in a timely and compliant manner.
Do you help with insurance claim delay finance outside Sydney?
Yes. Settled With Joe is based in Sydney and arranges insurance claim delay finance Australia-wide, covering both metro and regional areas. We work with clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, as well as regional areas including Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba. After a regional flood or storm, lenders may ask more about local recovery. Joseph Farhat and his team will point you to the lenders whose appetite fits your area and industry.
