A certain Social Security recipient will receive an annual benefit of $12,000 provided he has annual earnings of $9,360 or less, but the benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $3 of annual earnings over $9,360. What amount of total annual earnings would result in a 50 percent reduction in the recipient’s annual Social Security benefit (Assume Social Security benefits are not counted as part of annual earnings.)()
A.$15,360
B.$17,360
C.$18,000
D.$21,360
E.$27,360