Retirement Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Retirement Plans

Retirement Plans

The following tables show the net periodic benefit cost related to the Retirement Income Plan for Selective Insurance Company of America (“Retirement Income Plan”) and the life insurance benefits provided to eligible Selective Insurance Company of America retirees (referred to as the "Retirement Life Plan"). The Retirement Income Plan was amended in the first quarter of 2013 to curtail the accrual of additional benefits for all eligible employees after March 31, 2016. For more information concerning these plans, refer to Note 15. “Retirement Plans” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2014 Annual Report.

	Retirement Income Plan Quarter ended September 30,					Retirement Life Plan Quarter ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014		2015		2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$	1,964		1,627		$	—	—
Interest cost	3,501			3,253		64		73
Expected return on plan assets	(3,991		)	(3,919	)	—		—
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss	1,696			367		13		14
Total net periodic cost	$	3,170		1,328		$	77	87

	Retirement Income Plan Nine Months ended September 30,					Retirement Life Plan Nine Months ended September 30,
($ in thousands)	2015			2014		2015		2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$	5,891		4,880		$	—	—
Interest cost	10,504			9,760		190		219
Expected return on plan assets	(11,972		)	(11,756	)	—		—
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss	5,086			1,102		41		40
Total net periodic cost	$	9,509		3,986		$	231	259

	Retirement Income Plan Nine Months ended September 30,			Retirement Life Plan Nine Months ended September 30,
	2015		2014	2015		2014
Weighted-Average Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate	4.29	%	5.16	4.08	%	4.85
Expected return on plan assets	6.27		6.92	—		—
Rate of compensation increase	4.00		4.00	—		—

We presently anticipate contributing $11.9 million to the Retirement Income Plan in 2015, $9.6 million of which has been funded as of September 30, 2015.