Writing $B:=\{x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4\}$ and denoting by $S_i(A,B)$ the set of all those $c\in\mathbb R^2$ with at least $i$ representations as $c=a+b$ with $a\in A$ and $b\in B$, your question can be equivalently restated as follows: Is it true that \begin{align*} |S_1(A,B)| &\ge (k+1)^2, \\ |S_1(A,B)|+|S_2(A,B)| &\ge (k+1)^2+(k-1)(k+3) = 2k^2+4k-2, \\ |S_1(A,B)|+|S_2(A,B)|+|S_3(A,B)| &\ge (k+1)^2+(k-1)(k+3)+(k-1)^2 = 3k^2+2k-1? \end{align*} [We know][1] that the first of these three estimates holds true, following from a result of [Gardner-Gronchi][2]. For the second estimate, I cannot presently think of anything better than \begin{align*} |S_1(A,B)|+|S_2(A,B)| &\ge \frac23\big( |S_1(A,B)|+|S_2(A,B)|+|S_3(A,B)| \big) \\ &\ge \frac23\, (3k^2+2k-1) \\ &= 2k^2+\frac43k-\frac23, \end{align*} a little off from the requested. The last estimate is also true; it follows by observing that $S_4(A,B)=\cap_{i=1}^4(A+x_i)$; [this implies][1] $|S_4(A,B)|\le(k-1)^2$ and, as a result, \begin{align*} |S_1(A,B)|+|S_2(A,B)|+|S_3(A,B)| &= |A||B|-|S_4(A,B)| \\ &\ge 4k^2-(k-1)^2 \\ &= 3k^2+2k-1. \end{align*} --- Generally, sums of the form $$ \sum_{i=1}^m |S_i(A,B)| = \sum_{c\in A+B} \min\{r_{A,B}(c),m\} $$ (where $r_{A,B}(c)$ is the number of representations $c=a+b$) were [considered by Pollard][3] in the case where $A$ and $B$ are subsets of a prime-order group. As an immediate and well-known corollary of Pollard's result, one has $$ \sum_{i=1}^m |S_i(A,B)| \ge m(|A|+|B|-m) $$ whenever $A$ and $B$ are finite sets of real numbers and $1\le m\le\{|A|,|B|\}$. I am quite sure that sums of this sort have never been studied in the case where $A$ and $B$ are sets in $\mathbb R^n$ with $n\ge 2$. Merging the results of Gardner-Gronchi and Pollard in this situation would certainly be interesting in its own right. --- One last remark. Whatever your ultimate goal is, have a look at [this paper][4]. Among the rest, it establishes an extremal property of discrete cubes in $\mathbb R^n$ in a sense very close to what you seem to be interested in. [1]:https://mathoverflow.net/a/295422/9924 [2]:http://www.ams.org/journals/tran/2001-353-10/S0002-9947-01-02763-5/S0002-9947-01-02763-5.pdf [3]:https://academic.oup.com/jlms/article-abstract/s2-8/3/460/851896?redirectedFrom=PDF [4]:http://math.haifa.ac.il/seva/Papers/ShellOrder.pdf