TAMPA, Fla. — Three weeks into the government shutdown, federal workers in Tampa wonder how much longer they can take it.

The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now tied for the second longest in U.S. history. If a deal isn’t reached soon, many federal workers will go without a paycheck Friday.

What You Need To Know

Many government workers have continued to work during the shutdown, without pay

Tierra Carter, a Tampa call taker with the Social Security Administration, said she had to take a leave because she couldn’t continue working without pay

Social Security employees aren’t alone. Most prominently, TSA workers and air traffic controllers also are working without pay

SEE ALSO: Government shutdown threatens wave of missed payments; but there are options

Tierra Carter worked as a call taker for the Social Security Administration. When the government shut down, she and her coworkers were still required to work without pay.

“Many of us are working paycheck to paycheck, so to have a partial check and then not to have a check coming up, it’s crucial,” said Carter.

Carter decided last week to take a leave from SSA, unsure of how she could make life work when work wasn’t paying.

She also took on the weight of her colleague’s concerns as a union representative for the local American Federation of Government Employees.

“Over these past three weeks, it’s [become] hostile. Lot of panic attacks going on. People on the job that never thought they needed mental health, they need it now,” Carter said.

Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill can’t come to a consensus. But Carter says her co-workers are still required to come in — taking calls from concerned seniors — trying to get their social security checks.

They, alongside TSA and air traffic controllers, most prominently among others, are working without pay.

“I cannot speak faith-based in my position, but I have instructed them, ‘Whatever your faith is, whoever you pray to, grab hold to it for dear life,’” said Carter.

Spectrum News met Carter in the one place she says she still feels calm: her church. When she’s not reading scripture or praying, she’s cleaning; trying to find work anywhere she can.

Carter is unsure whether she’ll return to federal service when the shutdown ends.