EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS

The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) for Employers Mutual’s pension and postretirement benefit plans is as follows:



	Three months ended June 30,						Six months ended June 30,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017			2018			2017
Pension plans:
Service cost	$	4,300		$	3,708		$	8,426		$	7,568
Interest cost	2,698			2,800			5,363			5,595
Expected return on plan assets	(6,048		)	(5,191		)	(12,026		)	(10,382		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	143			913			268			1,821
Amortization of prior service cost	—			5			—			10
Net periodic pension benefit cost	$	1,093		$	2,235		$	2,031		$	4,612

Postretirement benefit plans:
Service cost	$	368		$	340		$	736		$	681
Interest cost	521			570			1,042			1,140
Expected return on plan assets	(1,203		)	(1,078		)	(2,407		)	(2,156		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	233			343			467			686
Amortization of prior service credit	(2,782		)	(2,788		)	(5,564		)	(5,577		)
Net periodic postretirement benefit income	$	(2,863	)	$	(2,613	)	$	(5,726	)	$	(5,226	)

Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $327,000 and $670,000 for the three months and $609,000 and $1.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net periodic postretirement benefit income allocated to the Company amounted to $806,000 and $736,000 for the three months and $1.6 million and $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The service cost component of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost/(income) allocated to the Company is included in the income statement line titled "other underwriting expenses". The other components of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost/(income) are included in the income statement line titled "other income".

The Company’s share of Employers Mutual’s remaining 2018 planned contribution to the pension plan, if made, will be approximately $600,000. No contributions will be made to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust in 2018.