10. RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS  (continued) As of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the status of the Company’s pension benefit plans and other postretirement benefit plan was as follows: 51 Pension Benefit Other Postretirement Benefit 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net (loss)/gain $ (36,315,245 ) $ (33,714,584 ) $ 499,701 $ 1,332,634 Prior service (cost) credit (265,012 ) (364,392 ) 8,253 13,325 $ (36,580,257 ) $ (34,078,976 ) $ 507,954 $ 1,345,959 Pension Benefit Other Postretirement Benefit 2019 2018 2019 2018 Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 91,533,200 $ 98,522,201 $ 2,096,761 $ 2,423,410 Change in discount rate 12,313,831 (8,319,874 ) 239,138 (217,539 ) Service cost 1,055,410 1,319,841 33,287 37,024 Interest cost 3,516,318 3,107,164 56,755 77,161 Actuarial (gain)/loss (1,508,935 ) 531,799 77,813 (89,664 ) Significant Event -- -- (902,719 ) -- Benefits paid (3,918,781 ) (3,627,931 ) (35,016 ) (133,631 ) Benefit obligation at end of year $ 102,991,043 $ 91,533,200 $ 1,566,019 $ 2,096,761 2019 2018 2019 2018 Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 66,170,875 $ 72,098,772  $ 1,448,126 $ 1,391,239 Actual return on plan assets 11,803,359 (4,827,641 ) 13,466 56,887 Employer contributions 304,105 2,527,675 35,016 133,631 Significant Event -- -- (902,719 ) -- Benefits paid (3,918,781 ) (3,627,931 ) (35,016 ) (133,631 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 74,359,558 $ 66,170,875  $ 558,873 $ 1,448,126 Pension Benefit Other Postretirement Benefit Funded Status 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net amount recognized in the balance sheet $ (28,631,485 ) $ (25,362,325 ) $ (1,007,146 ) $ (648,635 ) The Eastern Company Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued) Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of: