Originally Posted by
NYCFlyer10001
That sounds like the correct interpretation, but is not the one eclaimsline uses. You're welcome to call them and verify. They don't cover anything at your home airport.
There are reports of people getting the delay benefits (after appeal) at their departure airport IF that departure airport is not in their city of residence: see
this post describing the original incident, were the poster was delayed and stayed overnight at a hotel near EWR which was the first flight of their journey,
this post describing the rejection letter saying the benefit didn't apply as they were still "in their city of residence" (though the poster did not live in Newark, NJ), and
this post saying the appeal was approved a check was cut.