Case managers helped participants by arranging for necessary assessments, developing individual employment plans, and identifying and arranging for rehabilitation and employment services that the participants needed to achieve the goals in their plans. Participants received financial incentives, in the form of waivers, once their earnings reached $200 or self-employment exceeded a total of 40 hours. The provisions of the waiver were in effect for 12 months. During this period, the waivers allowed participants to circumvent mandatory special disability or blindness reviews for SSI recipients earning over $500 per month, which could lead to the determination that the applicant was no longer disabled. The waivers also prohibited employment from counting as a trial work period for SSDI recipients, and prevented an interruption of benefits. People could participate in Project NetWork Case Management for up to 24 months. Participation in the program was voluntary. All SSDI beneficiaries and SSI applicants and recipients were eligible to participate regardless of age and type or severity of disability. Project NetWork Case Management was implemented in Dallas and Fort Worth, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; six locations in New Hampshire; Richmond, VA; Tampa and Carrollwood, FL; Spokane, WA; and Coeur d'Alene, ID. The Project NetWork Demonstration also evaluated the impacts of waivers only.
Summary
Project Network Case Management waived Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program rules. Case managers helped participants find work.
Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain
View table definitionsScroll to the right to view the rest of the table columns
| Outcome domain | Term | Effectiveness rating | Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages | Effect in standard deviations | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase earnings | Short-term | 
|
$693 per year
|
0.019 | 4665 |
| Long-term |
|
$292 per year
|
0.008 | 4665 | |
| Very long-term |  |
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| Increase employment | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Decrease benefit receipt | Short-term | |
|||
| Long-term | |
||||
| Very long-term | |
||||
| Increase education and training | All measurement periods | |
Studies of this program
| Study quality rating | Study counts per rating |
|---|---|
 High
|
3 |
Program cost
No cost information available.
Cost results
| Estimate (in 2024 dollars) | Quality of cost analysis that produced the estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Total program cost, per participant | $7,029 |
Outstanding quality
|
| Net benefit to participants, per participant | $766 |
Outstanding quality
|
Cost information
How much did the program cost per participant?
The average total program cost per participant was $7,029 in 2024 dollars. This figure is based on cost information for this program reported in one cost study reviewed by Pathways to Work (for details, see the FAQ). This study received a rating of Outstanding quality for the cost analysis.
How much did the program cost relative to the benefits it generated?
A cost-benefit analysis was conducted in the cost study reviewed, receiving a rating of Outstanding quality. The net benefit to participants was $766 per participant in 2024 dollars. This means that the net program benefit to participants (difference in benefits between the program and comparison group) was $766 more than the net cost of the program to participants. The estimate is expressed as the net present value, which accounts for differences in the timing of when benefits and costs occurred. In addition, the net benefit to government was -$3,877 per participant in 2024 dollars. The net benefit to society was -$3,111 per participant in 2024 dollars. The net benefit to the program funder was -$6,591 per participant in 2024 dollars.
Cost information is not directly comparable across programs due to differences in the categories of costs reported and program length. Cost information is not an official price tag or guarantee.
Implementation details
State(s) where implemented
Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.