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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost and the cost of other postretirement benefits for the periods presented:


Three Months Ended June 30,


United States
Pension Benefits

Foreign
Pension Benefits

Other Postretirement
Benefits
Millions of dollars

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018
Service cost

$
—


$
—


$
2


$
2


$
1


$
1

Interest cost

31


29


6


6


4


3

Expected return on plan assets

(45
)

(42
)

(8
)

(9
)

—


—

Amortization:












Actuarial loss

12


13


2


2


—


—

Prior service credit

—


—


—


—


(3
)

(2
)
Settlement and curtailment (gain) loss

—


—


—


(3
)

—


—

Net periodic benefit cost (credit)

$
(2
)

$
—


$
2


$
(2
)

$
2


$
2


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
United States
Pension Benefits
 
Foreign
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement
Benefits
Millions of dollars
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Service cost
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

Interest cost
 
62

 
59

 
12

 
12

 
8

 
7

Expected return on plan assets
 
(89
)
 
(85
)
 
(15
)
 
(17
)
 
—

 
—

Amortization:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial loss
 
24

 
26

 
4

 
5

 
—

 
—

Prior service credit
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
1

Settlement and curtailment (gain) loss
 
—

 
—

 
1

 
(3
)
 
(7
)
 
—

Net periodic benefit cost (credit)
 
$
(3
)
 
$
—

 
$
5

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
11


The following table summarizes the net periodic cost recognized in operating profit and interest and sundry (income) expense for the periods presented:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
 
United States
Pension Benefits
 
Foreign
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement
Benefits
Millions of dollars
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Operating profit (loss)
 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2

 
$
2

 
$
1

 
$
1

Interest and sundry (income) expense
 
(2
)
 
—

 
—

 
(4
)
 
1

 
1

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
(2
)
 
$
—

 
$
2

 
$
(2
)
 
$
2

 
$
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
 
United States
Pension Benefits
 
Foreign
Pension Benefits
 
Other Postretirement
Benefits
Millions of dollars
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Operating profit (loss)
 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
3

Interest and sundry (income) expense
 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
2

 
(3
)
 
(4
)
 
8

Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
(3
)
 
$
—

 
$
5

 
$
—

 
$
(1
)
 
$
11


During the second quarter 2011, we modified retiree medical benefits for certain retirees to be consistent with those benefits provided by the Whirlpool Corporation Group Benefit Plan. We accounted for these changes as a plan amendment in 2011, resulting in a reduction in the postretirement benefit obligation of $138 million, of which approximately $89 million of benefit has been recognized in net earnings since 2011, with an offset to accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax. In response, a group of retirees initiated legal proceedings against Whirlpool asserting the above benefits are vested and changes to the plan are not permitted.
On February 15, 2019, we received a favorable decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which held that the benefits at issue are not vested for life and may be altered. On April 4, 2019, the Sixth Circuit Court issued a mandate to the district court, requiring it to take steps to implement this decision. The impact to the financial statements in 2019 related to this decision was not material and we do not expect a material financial impact in future periods.