Part II ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,  continued For 2019, long term employee benefit expense from continuing operations is expected to increase by about $30 million. The increase is mainly due to lower expected return on plan assets. The above charges (benefit) for pension and OPEB are determined as of the beginning of each period. Activities for the period ended December 31, 2018 and for the period September 1 through December 31, 2017 benefited from the absence of the amortization of net losses from AOCL. Long- term employee benefit expense in 2016 include a $382 million curtailment gain as a result of changes made to the U.S. Pension and OPEB benefits in 2016 described above. See "Pension Plans and Other Post Employment Benefits" under the Critical Accounting Estimates section beginning on page 33 of this report for additional information on determining annual expense. The company's income can be significantly affected by pension and defined contribution charges/(benefits) as well as OPEB costs. The following table summarizes the extent to which the company's income for the year ended December 31, 2018, for the period September 1 through December 31, 2017, for the period January 1 through August 31, 2017, and for the year ended December 31, 2016 was affected by pre-tax charges related to long-term employee benefits: In 2019, the company expects to contribute approximately $190 million to its funded pension plans other than the principal U.S. pension plan and its remaining plans with no plan assets, and about $240 million for its OPEB plans. The company does not expect to make contributions to the principal U.S. pension plan in 2019. The amount and timing of actual future contributions will depend on applicable funding requirements, discount rates, investment performance, plan design, and various other factors, including the Internal Reorganization, separations and distributions. Successor Predecessor For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 For the Period September 1 through December 31, 2017 For the Period January 1 through August 31, 2017 For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 (Dollars in millions) Long-term employee benefit plan charges (benefit)  1 $ 6 $ (12 ) $ 538 $ 442 1. The long-term employee benefit plan charges (benefit) include discontinued operations of $2 million, $8 million and $6 million for the periods September 1 through December 31, 2017 and January 1 through August 31, 2017 and for the year ended December 31, 2016, respectively. 41