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b. The current occupants of the home, if any, must not be claiming the shelter costs for SNAP purposes; and, c. The home must not be leased or rented during the household's absence. NOTE: Only one mandatory utility allowance for both homes is allowed. 3. Two occupied homes - sometimes a member of a household occupies and incurs out-of- pocket expenses for two homes because of employment or training away from home, or illness. Expenses are allowed for both residences (e.g., a spouse works as a traveling salesman and returns home each weekend, the cost of rent or motels while on the road is allowed as a shelter expense). NOTE: Only one mandatory utility allowance for both homes is allowed. 4. Group home residents - (SNAP 201-6). SHELTER EXPENSES NOT ALLOWED: The following shelter expenses are not allowed as a deduction: 1. Past due bills or amounts carried forward. 2. Late fees. 3. Renter’s insurance, as it does not cover the rented structure or dwelling where the tenant lives. 4. Costs associated with cutting wood for heat such as cutting permits, gas for a chain saw and truck, or equipment like a chain saw. 5. Expenses paid by vendor payment unless the vendor payment is counted as income. 6. Costs that will be reimbursed. LIHEAP is not a reimbursement. HUD or FMHA utility reimbursements are examples of reimbursed costs that are not allowed as a shelter deduction. 7. One-time deposits. 8. Closing costs are not allowable expenses. Itemized allowable closing costs such as homeowner's insurance and property taxes are allowed as expenses. 9. Payments for prior months as an expense for the current benefit month; and, 10. In-kind benefits are benefits that no monetary payment is made on behalf of the household. 11. Costs associated with internet service or setup. MANDATORY UTILITY ALLOWANCE: Households cannot claim actual utility expenses and are entitled to only one of the mandatory utility allowances or the telephone allowance (as listed below). The household is allowed a mandatory utility allowance if the household is obligated to pay for heating, cooling, cooking fuel, electricity, water, sewage, garbage, or telephone expenses including charges for initial installation of the utility. NOTE: Cooling costs are electricity expenses required to operate a swamp cooler or air conditioner (window or central unit) and do not include window fans. Space heaters do not entitle households to the SUA unless it is their primary source of heat.