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Retirement Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Retirement Plans Retirement Plans
The primary pension plan for our employees is the Retirement Income Plan for Selective Insurance Company of America (the “Pension Plan”). Selective Insurance Company of America ("SICA") also sponsors the Supplemental Excess Retirement Plan (the “Excess Plan”) and a life insurance benefit plan. All plans are closed to new entrants, and benefits ceased accruing under the Pension Plan and the Excess Plan after March 31, 2016. For more information about SICA's retirement plans, see Note 15. “Retirement Plans” in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” of our 2020 Annual Report.

The following tables provide information about the Pension Plan:
Pension Plan
Quarter ended March 31,
($ in thousands)20212020
Net Periodic Pension Cost (Benefit):
Interest cost$2,148 2,828 
Expected return on plan assets(5,744)(5,477)
Amortization of unrecognized net actuarial loss625 704 
Total net periodic pension cost (benefit)1
$(2,971)(1,945)
1 The components of net periodic pension cost (benefit) are included within "Loss and loss expense incurred" and "Other insurance expenses" on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Pension Plan
Quarter ended March 31,
20212020
Weighted-Average Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate2.68 %3.33 %
Effective interest rate for calculation of interest cost2.06 2.95 
Expected return on plan assets5.40 5.80