Federal pandemic unemployment benefits end on Labor Day, cutting off weekly payments to 452,000 people in Illinois

After more than 17 months of expanded benefits, federal pandemic unemployment programs are set to end on Labor Day, cutting off weekly payments to 7.5 million people — including 452,000 in Illinois.

The sudden expiration of emergency federal assistance, which some economists have likened to a fiscal cliff, could precipitate everything from a flood of job seekers to a plunge in consumer spending in Illinois, which is expected to be among the hardest-hit states.

In Illinois, the maximum regular unemployment payment is $484 a week for up to 26 weeks.