In Hypolite v. Carleson (1975) 52 Cal.App.3d 566, the plaintiff sought class certification in an action for AFDC benefits which were allegedly wrongfully withheld under a statute that provided for aid to families with children during the continued absence of a parent. Pursuant to this statute, the Department of Social Welfare denied AFDC benefits to families where parents maintained a home together but apart from their child. The defendant agency conceded that the designated class shared a common question of law because each plaintiff's case turned on construction of the same statute regulating AFDC payments. In contending that the action should not be certified, the agency's argument rested on the premise that the many variables which determine eligibility would have to be evaluated in each case in order to determine the propriety of the retroactive aid. Since such an evaluation would require inquiry into "a myriad of factors," the agency inferred that plaintiffs failed to make a showing of common questions of fact. The Court of Appeal rejected the agency's argument, holding that the designated class consisted only of those individuals who were rendered ineligible for AFDC solely because their parents maintained a home together elsewhere. Thus, the court found it clear that but one essential fact was to be pursued by appellant with respect to each class member who claims retroactive AFDC benefits.