The first check, minus your deductible and depreciation, is usually only enough for your contractor to buy materials and get your work started. Many times the first check will be co-endorsed to you and your mortgage company.
If your check is co-endorsed, you’ll need to get a signature from your mortgage company before starting work. If your check is not co-endorsed to your mortgage company, you can simply endorse the check and give it to your roofing contractor or deposit it into your local bank. Your bank may or may not have a policy of holding insurance funds for 7-10 business days.