Linkage Criteria

Federal eligibility (linkage) for Foster Care can be established if there is AFDC linkage in the month that the petition is filed or the voluntary placement agreement is signed. Federal linkage requirements can be partially documented by receipt of CalWORKs. A POEM determination must be completed for all cases, to ensure that eligibility exists according to July 16, 1996 AFDC rules which differ from the CalWORKs Program. The EW must determine if:

The child lived with the parent or relative from whom removed in the petition month; or
If the child lived with the parent or relative from whom removed in the petition month and “would have been eligible for AFDC” had an application been made; or
The child was no longer living in the home of the parent or relative from whom removed, but “would have been eligible for AFDC” based on that parent's or relative's home had s/he been living there and had application been made.

This condition is met as long as the child had lived in the home of the parent (s) or relative(s) from whom removed within the six month period prior to when the petition was filed, AND the child’s parent(s)/relative(s) would have been eligible for AFDC during the month of petition, had application been made.

The child must not be re-placed with that same parent/relative; and
The child must not be receiving SSI.

Note: If the child would have been AFDC eligible except for the receipt of SSI, federal eligibility can be claimed when SSI is terminated. Refer to Social Security Administration Benefits for more information.

Linkage Criteria

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