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Employee Benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefits Employee Benefits
For detailed description of the various defined benefit pension plans (qualified and non-qualified) and post-retirement benefits plans we sponsor, see Note 10—Employee Benefits to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Net periodic benefit income for the Lumen Combined Pension Plan ("Combined Pension Plan") includes the following components:

 Combined Pension Plan
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 20212020
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$13 16 
Interest cost50 82 
Expected return on plan assets(138)(149)
Recognition of prior service credit(2)(3)
Recognition of actuarial loss49 50 
Net periodic pension benefit income$(28)(4)

Net periodic benefit expense for our post-retirement benefit plans includes the following components:

 Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 20212020
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$4 4 
Interest cost12 20 
Recognition of prior service cost4 4 
Recognition of actuarial loss1 — 
Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense$21 28 

Service costs are included in the cost of services and products and selling, general and administrative line items on the consolidated statements of operations and all other costs listed above are included in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations.
Benefits paid by the Combined Pension Plan are paid through a trust that holds all of the Plan's assets. Based on current laws and circumstances, we do not expect any contributions to be required for the Combined Pension Plan during 2021. The amount of required contributions to the Combined Pension Plan in 2022 and beyond will depend on a variety of factors, most of which are beyond our control, including earnings on plan investments, prevailing interest rates, demographic experience, changes in plan benefits and changes in funding laws and regulations. We occasionally make voluntary contributions in addition to required contributions. Based on current laws and circumstances, we do not believe we are required to make any contributions to the Combined Pension Plan in 2021, but we could make voluntary contributions to the trust for the Combined Pension Plan in 2021.