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Pensions and Other Benefits (Notes)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
Pensions and Other Benefits
Pensions and Other Benefits
The following table reflects the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:
 
 
Pension
Benefits
 
Other
Benefits
(In millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Service cost
 
$
26

 
$
27

 
$
5

 
$
6

Interest cost
 
66

 
109

 
24

 
36

Expected return on plan assets
 
(110
)
 
(153
)
 
(38
)
 
(35
)
Amortization of prior service cost
 
4

 
6

 
(2
)
 
(3
)
Amortization of actuarial net loss
 
64

 
70

 
2

 
(1
)
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below
 
50

 
59

 
(9
)
 
3

Multiemployer plans
 
18

 
18

 

 

Settlement, termination and curtailment losses
 
3

 
7

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
71

 
$
84

 
$
(9
)
 
$
3

Employer Contributions
During the first three months of 2015, U. S. Steel made cash payments of $21 million to the Steelworkers’ Pension Trust and $8 million of pension payments not funded by trusts.
During the first three months of 2015, cash payments of $43 million were made for other postretirement benefit payments not funded by trusts. In addition, U. S. Steel made a required contribution of $10 million in the first three months of 2015 to our trust for represented retiree health care and life insurance benefits.
Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $10 million and $12 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Non-retirement postemployment benefits
U. S. Steel incurred costs of approximately $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 related to the accrual of employee costs for supplemental unemployment benefits and the continuation of health care benefits and life insurance coverage for employees associated with the temporary idling of certain facilities and reduced production at others. Payments during the three months ended March 31, 2015 were insignificant. There were no significant similar costs incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
    
Pension Funding
In November 2013, U. S. Steel's Board of Directors authorized voluntary contributions to U. S. Steel's trusts for pensions and other benefits of up to $300 million through the end of 2015. In August 2014, U. S. Steel made a voluntary contribution of $140 million to our main U.S. defined benefit plan.