Some federal unemployment benefit programs that were put in place to assist people during the COVID-19 pandemic expired Monday.

One of those programs was the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which gave recipients an additional $300 in unemployment benefits.

Buffalo State College Economics Professor Fred Floss said the added $300 for those who are unemployed made a big difference in people's lives.

"It's been the difference between getting medicine, for example, being able to buy your kids sneakers so they can go to school, and I think there were additional costs that we didn't realize, because of the pandemic," said Fred Floss, SUNY Buffalo State College professor of economics and finance.

Floss said not receiving that extra $300 won't push people back into the work force. He said that's part of a trend seen in states that previously got rid of the additional benefits.

"What we've seen is, in fact, most individuals still didn't go back to work. There were other reasons. Child care is the obvious one, but individuals being sick, fear of the pandemic, all of those things have meant individuals aren't working," Floss said. 

That trend is likely going to continue in Western New York. The expiration of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation also comes as cases of the delta variant increase across the nation.

Floss says that makes the decision to return to work trickier for families.

"Are my children going to be able to go to school? Are there going to be masks? Will they get sick? And if any of those things happen, who is going to take care of my child?" Floss said. 

He said the loss of extra benefits could have a ripple effect through the local economy.

"It's also the places that they use that $300 for. The restaurants. Maybe you're getting your hair cut or maybe you're getting your car repaired. All of those things you're no longer going to get money for, so those people are no longer have jobs," Floss said.

Floss advises people to look into community services and other programs, like the Home Energy Assistance program, food stamps, that they may now be eligible for.