Preponderance of Evidence Model (POEM)

The POEM is a method of establishing a child’s AFDC Linkage in the month of petition. The following outlines the POEM requirements for cases in which the child was NOT receiving CalWORKs in the home of removal. To obtain federal eligibility based on POEM ALL of the criteria in the following sections apply.

Deprivation

The child must be deprived of parental support or care due to one of the following:

Deceased parent
Incapacitated parent
Unemployed parent
Absent parent.

Supportive Case File Documentation

The service or probation case file must support an initial assumption of federal linkage to AFDC. The portions of the service or Probation case file that support the AFDC Linkage determination must be indicated on the “Determination of Federal AFDC-FC Eligibility (FC 3) form, and placed in the Foster case file.

Note: If the service or probation case file indicate that both parents were in the home and employed or otherwise failed to meet federal eligibility requirements, there is no federal eligibility.

Third Party Verification

Third party verification is defined as the use of outside sources to verify pertinent information, as relevant documentation is not found in the case file. It is required to support the determination that AFDC eligibility would have existed had an application for AFDC been made in the month of petition. Third party verification must support the AFDC eligibility determination or at a minimum confirm that no evidence contradicts the eligibility assumption. If conflicting information exists, clarification must be resolved to support AFDC linkage.

For example:

The Foster Care EW may contact another Social Service Agency to clarify needed documentation.

A grandmother may complete an affidavit regarding a situation in the home of removal. Third party verification can be obtained using IEVS, if the parent’s Social Security Number is known.

Verification from IEVS

Third Party Verification can be obtained if the parent’s SSN is known. The following table lists the verification requirements if a parent(s) SSN is known:

No.	Requirements
1.	If the child was living with...	Then...
	Both Parents	An attempt to obtain an IEVS abstract must be made on both parents. At a minimum, an IEVS abstract on the principal earner is required.
	Only One Parent	An IEVS abstract on that parent is required.
2.	The IEVS abstract must: Support the information in the current case record. Show that property and income is within the Federal AFDC limits.
3.	The IEVS abstract can be obtained for the first nine (9) months of placement. If an IEVS abstract supports an assumption of AFDC eligibility during the first nine (9) months of placement, Federal eligibility can be claimed retroactively to the month of the petition/placement. Note: IEVS abstract information is not current, continue to request IEVS abstracts until the information received covers the first nine (9) months of placement.
4.	Some earnings do NOT show up on an IEVS abstract, including: Federal employment, Self-employment, Out-of-state employment, or Companies not covered by Unemployment Insurance Benefits, When a parent has income from any of the following sources, see Verification When the SSN is Unknown below.

Verification When SSN is Unknown

An IEVS abstract cannot be obtained if the SSN is unknown. Follow these procedures: