THE DIXIE GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (amounts in thousands, except per share data) (Continued) Postretirement Plans Table of Contents 54 The Company sponsors a postretirement benefit plan that provides life insurance to a limited number of associates upon retirement as part of a collective bargaining agreement. Information about the benefit obligation and funded status of the Company's postretirement benefit plan is summarized as follows: The balance sheet classification of the Company's liability for the postretirement benefit plan is summarized as follows: Benefits expected to be paid on behalf of associates for the postretirement benefit plan during the period 2020 through 2029 are summarized as follows: Assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation of the Company's postretirement benefit plan are summarized as follows: (2) The Company's contributions to the plan do not represent more than 5% of the total contributions to the plan for the most recent plan year available. 2019 2018 Change in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 331 $ 325 Service cost 7 8 Interest cost 17 17 Actuarial (gain) loss 6 (18 ) Benefits paid (1) (1) Benefit obligation at end of year 360 331 Change in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year — — Employer contributions 1 1 Benefits paid (1) (1) Fair value of plan assets at end of year — — Unfunded amount $ (360 ) $ (331 ) 2019 2018 Accrued expenses $ 16 $ 15 Other long-term liabilities 344 316 Total liability $ 360 $ 331 Years Postretirement Plan 2020 $ 16 2021 15 2022 15 2023 14 2024 14 2025 - 2029 75 2019 2018 Weighted-average assumptions as of year-end: Discount rate (benefit obligation) 3.50% 4.00%