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Benefit Plans
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011
Benefit Plans  
Benefit Plans
5. Benefit Plans

The Company has a funded defined benefit plan ("Pension Plan") and a defined contribution plan, which cover substantially all employees who work 1,000 hours or more in a year. The Company also has an unfunded defined benefit supplementary retirement plan, which provides benefits, for certain employees, in excess of qualified plan limitations.

During the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, the Company made funding contributions to the Pension Plan of $225 million and $325 million, respectively.

In addition, certain retired employees currently are provided with specified health care and life insurance benefits ("Postretirement Obligations"). Eligibility requirements for such benefits vary, but generally state that benefits are available to eligible employees who were hired prior to a certain date and retire after a certain age with specified years of service. Certain employees are subject to having such benefits modified or terminated.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" and the "Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010" (the "2010 Acts"). The 2010 Acts contain provisions which impact the accounting for postretirement obligations. Based on the analysis to date, the impact of provisions in the 2010 Acts is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the 2010 Acts on the active and retiree benefit plans offered by the Company.

The actuarially determined components of the net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

 

     13 Weeks Ended  
     April 30,
2011
    May 1,
2010
 
     (millions)  

Pension Plan

    

Service cost

   $ 26      $ 24   

Interest cost

     40        39   

Expected return on assets

     (62     (54

Recognition of net actuarial loss

     21        15   

Amortization of prior service cost

     0        0   
                
   $ 25      $ 24   
                

Supplementary Retirement Plan

    

Service cost

   $ 1      $ 2   

Interest cost

     9        9   

Recognition of net actuarial loss

     2        1   

Amortization of prior service cost

     0        0   
                
   $ 12      $ 12   
                

Postretirement Obligations

    

Service cost

   $ 0      $ 0   

Interest cost

     4        4   

Recognition of net actuarial gain

     (1     (1

Amortization of prior service cost

     0        0   
                
   $ 3      $ 3