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 intervention 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.
Project Network Case Management waived Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program rules. Case managers helped participants find work.