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 March 31,
($ in thousands)	2018			2017
Pension plans:
Service cost	$	4,126		$	3,860
Interest cost	2,665			2,795
Expected return on plan assets	(5,978		)	(5,191		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	125			908
Amortization of prior service cost	—			5
Net periodic pension benefit cost	$	938		$	2,377

Postretirement benefit plans:
Service cost	$	368		$	341
Interest cost	521			570
Expected return on plan assets	(1,204		)	(1,078		)
Amortization of net actuarial loss	234			343
Amortization of prior service credit	(2,782		)	(2,789		)
Net periodic postretirement benefit income	$	(2,863	)	$	(2,613	)

Net periodic pension benefit cost allocated to the Company amounted to $282,000 and $713,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net periodic postretirement benefit income allocated to the Company amounted to $806,000 and $736,000 for the three months ended March 31, 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 2018 planned contribution to the pension plan, if made, will be approximately $2.4 million. No contributions will be made to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust in 2018.