Verizon Communications (VZ)

Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting from changes in plan benefits are amortized over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits. Expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the return on assets assumption to the market-related value of assets. Verizon management employees no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy (see Note 12).

We recognize a defined benefit postretirement plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets. Also, we measure any unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of applicable income tax.

Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting from changes in plan benefits are amortized over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits. Expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the return on assets assumption to the market-related value of assets.

As of July 1, 2006, Verizon management employees no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy (see Note 15).

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS No. 158). Effective December 31, 2006, SFAS No. 158 requires the recognition of a defined benefit postretirement plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability on the balance sheet. SFAS No. 158 also requires the immediate recognition of the unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period as a component of Other accumulated comprehensive loss, net of applicable income taxes. We adopted SFAS No. 158 effective December 31, 2006, which resulted in a net decrease to equity of $7,409 million. This included a net increase in pension obligations of $2,007 million, an increase in Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations of $10,828 million and an increase in Other Employee Benefit Obligations of $31 million, offset by an increase in deferred taxes of $5,457 million. Additionally, plan assets are measured at fair value as of the Company’s year-end.

Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting from changes in plan benefits are amortized over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits. Expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the return on assets assumption to the market-related value of assets.

As of July 1, 2006, Verizon management employees no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy (see Note 15).

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS No. 158). Effective December 31, 2006, SFAS No. 158 requires the recognition of a defined benefit postretirement plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability on the balance sheet. SFAS No. 158 also requires the immediate recognition of the unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period as a component of Other accumulated comprehensive loss, net of applicable income taxes. We adopted SFAS No. 158 effective December 31, 2006, which resulted in a net decrease to shareowners’ investment of $7,409 million. This included a net increase in pension obligations of $2,007 million, an increase in Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations of $10,828 million and an increase in Other Employee Benefit Obligations of $31 million, offset by an increase in deferred taxes of $5,457 million. Additionally, plan assets are measured at fair value as of the Company’s year-end.

Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting from changes in plan benefits are amortized over the average remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits. Expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the return on assets assumption to the market-related value of assets.

As of July 1, 2006, Verizon management employees no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy (see Note 15).

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R) (SFAS No. 158). Effective December 31, 2006, SFAS No. 158 requires the recognition of a defined benefit postretirement plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability on the balance sheet. SFAS No. 158 also requires the immediate recognition of the unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that arise during the period as a component of other accumulated comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. Additionally, the fair value of plan assets must be determined as of the Company’s year-end. We adopted SFAS No. 158 effective December 31, 2006, which resulted in a net decrease to shareowners’ investment of $7,409 million. This included a net increase in pension obligations of $2,007 million, an increase in Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations of $10,828 million and an increase in Other Employee Benefit Obligations of $31 million, offset by an increase in deferred taxes of $5,457 million.

Employee Benefit Plans