You must earn at least 40 Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security benefits.
Alright, and how do I get those credits?
You earn Social Security credits when you work and pay Social Security taxes.
What about retirement benefits? How many credits do I require to retire?
Were you born after 1928?
Well, yes.
Then you need 40 credits to qualify for retirement.
How many credits can I earn per year?
You can earn up to a maximum of four credits per year.
If I earn more credits than needed, do I get a higher amount of benefits?