Table:
|  | 2019 | 2018 |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | (in thousands) |  |
| Assets and Obligations |  |  |
| Change in benefit obligation: |  |  |
| Projected benefit obligation: |  |  |
| Beginning of year | $9,256 | $6,177 |
| Service cost | 41 | 39 |
| Interest cost | 347 | 196 |
| Actuarial loss | 717 | 25 |
| Benefits paid | (1,358) | (889) |
| Special termination benefits | — | 3,708 |
| End of year | 9,003 | 9,256 |
| Change in plan assets: |  |  |
| Fair value of plan assets: |  |  |
| Beginning of year | — | — |
| Company contributions | 1,358 | 889 |
| Benefits paid | (1,358) | (889) |
| End of year | — | — |
| Funded status | $(9,003) | $(9,256) |
Paragraphs:
Postretirement Benefit Plans
In addition to receiving pension benefits, U.S. Teradyne employees who meet early retirement eligibility requirements as of their termination dates may participate in Teradyne’s Welfare Plan, which includes medical and dental benefits up to age 65. Death benefits provide a fixed sum to retirees’ survivors and are available to all retirees. Substantially all of Teradyne’s current U.S. employees could become eligible for these benefits, and the existing benefit obligation relates primarily to those employees.
The December 31 balances of the postretirement assets and obligations are shown below:
Question:
What are the death benefits?
Answer: provide a fixed sum to retirees’ survivors and are available to all retirees