<prompt> Human: My wifes father passed away in 2012. He would be 69 this year. He had paid into social security his whole life and died before being eligible to collect it himself. Today at work my wife was talking to a co-worker and somehow it came up from the co-worker that my wife may be eligible to collect her fathers social security. Does anyone know if this is true? Im trying to do some research of my own as well.EDIT: Thanks everyone the comments here pretty much answer the question: NO. Here is a link to the social security website with the info as well:  <response>: His spouse may be eligible, but youre not entitled to SS from your parents not talking about situations where the parent dies with a minor child. 