To qualify for Social Security benefits, you must earn at least 40 Social Security credits. You can earn up to four credits each year, and each credit represents a certain amount of earnings. In 2023, the amount needed to earn one credit is $1,640. You can work all year to earn four credits ($6,560), or you can earn enough for all four in a much shorter length of time. If you earn four credits a year, then you will earn 40 credits after 10 years of work. The minimum Social Security benefit amount varies depending on the number of years you have worked and the amount of your earnings. However, to be eligible for a special minimum benefit, a person must have at least 11 years of coverage and a certain minimum amount of earnings in each year. Therefore, the minimum Social Security benefit with 40 credits cannot be determined without additional information about the persons earnings history.