XML 29 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.2
Employee Benefits
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefits Employee Benefits
For detailed description of the various defined benefit pension plans (qualified and non-qualified), post-retirement benefits plans and defined contribution plan 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 June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
 2021202020212020
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$15 13 28 29 
Interest cost49 80 99 162 
Expected return on plan assets(138)(149)(276)(298)
Recognition of prior service credit(3)(1)(5)(4)
Recognition of actuarial loss49 52 98 102 
Net periodic pension benefit income$(28)(5)(56)(9)

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

 Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
 Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
 2021202020212020
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$3 3 7 7 
Interest cost11 20 23 40 
Recognition of prior service cost4 4 8 8 
Recognition of actuarial loss1 — 2 — 
Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense$19 27 40 55 
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. 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.