Can someone get approved for Supplemental Security Income and not get approved for Social Security Disability Insurance?

Yes. The main difference between these two disability programs is the eligibility requirements. In short, in order to receive SSDI you must have worked long enough and paid taxes to be “insured”. Depending on how long it has been since you last worked the date in which you were last insured may be in the past. If so, you must meet the requirements to be found disabled prior to this date, which is referred to as your Date Last Insured (DLI). The SSI program does not have a DLI, therefore; if you are found disabled after your DLI but are eligible for the SSI program you would receive monthly benefits from SSI but not SSDI. For more information on DLIs, see “What is my Date Last Insured?”