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Postretirement Plans
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]  
Postretirement Plans POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

The Company sponsors unfunded postretirement benefit plans (primarily health care) for certain U.S. retirees and their dependents. The components of net postretirement benefits expense for the years ended September 30 follow:
 
2017

 
2018

 
2019

Service cost
$
1

 
1

 
1

Interest cost
6

 
6

 
5

Net amortization
(19
)
 
(19
)
 
(18
)
     Net postretirement expense
$
(12
)
 
(12
)
 
(12
)


Details of the changes in actuarial present value of accumulated postretirement benefit obligations follow:
 
2018

 
2019

Benefit obligation, beginning
$
174

 
149

     Service cost
1

 
1

     Interest cost
6

 
5

     Actuarial (gain) loss
(19
)
 
5

     Benefits paid
(13
)
 
(13
)
Benefit obligation, ending (recognized in balance sheet)
$
149

 
147



As of September 30, 2019 there were $118 of deferred actuarial gains in accumulated other comprehensive income, of which approximately $13 will be amortized into earnings in 2020. The discount rates used to measure the benefit obligation as of September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were 2.99 percent, 4.08 percent and 3.45 percent, respectively. The health care cost trend rate used for 2020 is assumed to be 7.0 percent initially and was assumed to be 7.2 percent in 2019, declining to 5.0 percent over the subsequent nine years. A one percentage point increase or decrease in the health care cost trend rate assumption for either year would have an inconsequential impact on postretirement benefits expense and the benefit obligation. The Company estimates that future health care benefit payments will be approximately $12 per year for 2020 through 2024, and $49 in total over the five years 2025 through 2029.