7. Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	(000's)								(000's)
					Post-Retirement								Post-Retirement
		Pension Benefits			Health Benefits				Pension Benefits				Health Benefits
	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
Service cost	$	559	$	1,218	$	17	$	15	$	1,119	$	2,436	$	34	$	30
Interest cost		846		917		43		43		1,692		1,833		87		86
Expected return on plan assets		(827)		(815)		-		-		(1,655)		(1,629)		-		-
Amortization of transition obligation		-		-		15		15		-		-		30		30
Net amortization of prior service cost		(4)		41		-		-		(8)		83		-		-
Net amortization of net (gain) loss		523		567		-		-		1,046		1,135		-		-
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	1,097	$	1,928	$	75	$	73	$	2,194	$	3,858	$	151	$	146

Employer Contributions

First Financial Corporation previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 that it expected to contribute $2.1 million and $550 thousand respectively to its Pension Plan and ESOP and $234 thousand to the Post Retirement Health Benefits Plan in 2013. Contributions of $620 thousand have been made to the Pension Plan. Contributions of $103 thousand have been made through the first six months of 2013 for the Post Retirement Health Benefits plan. No contributions have been made in 2013 for the ESOP. The Pension plan was frozen for most employees at the end of 2012 and for those employees there will be discretionary contributions to the ESOP plan and a 401K plan in place of the former Pension benefit. In the first six months of 2013 there has been $700 thousand of expense accrued for potential contributions to these alternative retirement benefit options.