BLOOMINGTON -- Illinois homeowners will pay an average of 13 percent more for their State Farm insurance, but customers who also have auto insurance will get a bigger discount for having more than one policy.

State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. announced the increase Thursday. The new rates will be implemented Aug. 1 for new customers and take effect Oct. 1 for renewing policyholders. Specific percentages will vary depending on coverage and deductibles.

Spokeswoman Missy Lundberg said the increases come after the company predicted a continued trend of higher homeowner claims. The company paid homeowner claims of $267.6 million in 2008, compared to $116.2 million in 2007; some claims from 2008 are pending, she said.

The company also is increasing its multi-line discount from 17 percent to 20 percent for homeowner policyholders who have a qualifying State Farm auto policy.

Last month, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. raised its Illinois rates for the third time in less than a year. In the last year, auto rates have increased 8.7 percent.

The higher number of homeowner claims has been based on damage from a number of wind and hail storms, and causes such as fires and flooding from backed-up sewer drains, Lundberg said.

Homeowner policies increased by an average of 2.6 percent in 2008; decreased 3 percent in 2007; increased 1.7 percent in 2006; increased 1.5 percent in 2005; and decreased 3.7 percent in 2004.

For the same years, State Farm paid Illinois homeowners on catastrophe claims of $53.7 million in 2004; $68.6 million in 2005; $145.5 million in 2006; $116.2 million in 2007; and $267.6 million in 2008, with some claims still pending.

So far in 2009, the company has paid claims of $84.2 million.