A Second Home Becomes The Only Home-III

Surreal happenings outside the flood zone: the other day, State Farm, the insurer of my sister and brother-in-law's home in New Orleans, refused to pay their claim for a ruined, once-expensive refrigerator unless they could prove to the claims adjuster that it contained $1,000 worth of rotten food. The same day, the state of Massachusetts (where they are staying in their summer condo) insisted they accept $400 in food stamps. So I'm wondering: is this a $400 net gain or a $600 net loss? And why is State Farm being so difficult with its hard-hit paying customers, who have paid their premiums on time year after year, while the government is suddenly flinging benefits at all comers?