i dont really see what you being a single mum has to d with you using your own contractors. Having just recvered myself from an insurance claim arising from a flood, i would peersonally leave it in the hands of their contractors, it's just too fiddly otherwise - for example, they sent me a cheque made out for the floor contractors quote, but then it was more because they came across an unexpected problem. they told me not to give the cheque to the floor people till it was done but they wanted a 25% deposit to get started. i really didnt want to send the cheque back to the insurance co and ask for one for 25% because it tiik us ages to get it out of them in the first place!
also, when we had the quotes, it was 15% vat so all the cheques are made out to the wrong amount!
Personally, i would have just preferred them to come round and sort it out themselves!