I have noticed that my 36 by 24 cape house is settling. To the point that my stove which is in the center of the first floor, is slanted towards the rear of my house.
Its MORE apparent as of this writing because when you fill a pot of water you have to put less in,, its boiling over one side.
I'm afraid to ask my homeowners insurance anything as I was warned they can USE IT AGAINST YOU in furture claims, maybe like pre existing conditions,
I also have a 16/36 cover over a patio in my back yard that is rotting.
Again I am afraid to ask my homeowners anything
CAN ANYONE help me with any suggestions that can help me? I'm on a really fixed income, and I don't want to make any mistakes if I file a claim. I know that i will prob have to fix the cover, but how can i find out if insurance will cover this without hurting myself in the process. thanks.

Did you buy from an agent or direct? You can usually talk to your agent, especially if its an independent.

Insurance certainly will not cover the rotten patio, or anything rotting.
I highly doubt that it will cover the settling foundation either, unless it's a new house and your builder has gone out of business and can't be sued.
I don't think you have a grasp of what insurance is for, and need to sit down with your agent and discuss this. Read the policy first, and mark any questions.

And they don't "USE IT AGAINST YOU!". This is not a police state. They may surcharge you for 3 years. The 2 issues you note are not insured perils.

OK thanks to all. I will take my policy and sit with a local agent, mine is located 100 miles away.(Sentry... opened the policy when they were closer).

Why not try a phone call? How old is the house? Could it be a sinkhole? Has anyone inspected the foundation? I realize that your question is about insurance but you have possibly serious problems which could affect your safety also.

As I read your question your chief concern seems to be how to finance home repairs, and I don't think the insurance covers these repairs, but as smearcase posted, a phone call will clarify that for you. For older people there are other options depending on your mortgage status, such as a reverse mortgage or equity loans or even applying for a grant. There are also many warranty companies (some good, some not so good) that can help you with a financing plan.

I think the first step is too get 3 no cost estimates of the repairs IN WRITING to begin to know what you are actually dealing with, before you can begin to address the problem. Maybe the insurance company can help you with that, but generally its on the homeowner. A caution here is that the insurance company may not continue your policy unless you meet their requirements of what they do cover, so having them as your only option for financing (hopeful) before evaluating other options may not be the way to go.

What ever direction you go, a true assessment of the project is in your best interest to decide what such a project entails. Your general location is very important.

thanks to all answers, I would do a phone call but as noted, everything in writing, and that usually entails right at that moment. Insurance co.s are not in the business to GIVE anything away; As I found out after surviving a fire peril. I had to DICKER for every Penny, and the amount they wanted to give me in the end was less than half of the value of the items based on THEIR valuations.
I spoke with an Independent agent in CT. and was warned to not mention a repair/replace request unelss I was prepared to pay the deductable,etc... because they keep that information on file, and under different circumstances they can dissallow that perticular repair as a pre existing condition. WEIRD but that's from an agent.

Getting a copy of your policy and going over what it covers with your agent is not the same thing at all.
But I assure you - rotting structures are not covered by any policy.
Your foundation depends on when you bought it and how old it is.
I agree with you about a lot of this, which is why I don't have HO insurance. But I own my house outright and am willing to take the risk.

Having spent my last 20 years with Travelers Insurance, I am a bit surprised by your comments. Maybe your company is a small local outfit but Insurance Commissions are more than happy to fine us for not paying a claim to the limit of the policy. Many people under insure hoping yo save money and then when the Insurance To Value is less than 80%, you have to participate. Do you have all risk replacement cost? If not, YOU will only get market value, not replacement. You are right, we don't Give anything away, we pay what your policy requires. No one sits there and connives ways to not pay. I had a $20,000 Tornado loss on a new house. Allstate bent over backward to completely rebuild my house. I had an auto claim, my fault. For the $2500 damage I caused, Allstate surcharged me $60 for 3 years. Nothing you has indicated as damage is covered by your Homeowners Insurance since it did not result from an insurable peril. Read your policy. When I was at Travelers, now retired 9 years, we would be more than happy to only pay 95% of the policy claims back. Unfortunately, people forget the multi million $$ claims from Tornadoes and Hurricanes. Where does that money come from? I carry $5,000 deductibles so yes, I do have some potential loss.