“Very simply, I’ve been going to work every single day. And even though I’m not getting paid at all, I have to still keep going in,” shared Tiffany.
Tiffany is employed by the Social Security Administration. She’s among the 30,000 Kansas Citians who was impacted by the longest government shutdown in US history.
“I haven’t been able to pay my bills and have had to resort to using credit cards to get by for gas and food,” she said.
Tiffany has two children who live with her, an adult and a teenager.
“It’s felt really bad to be stuck in this situation,” Tiffany said. “It seems like I can’t pay for everything my son needs. He needed lunch money for school, contact lenses, and these are thing I can’t just bypass.”
She says when the government shutdown started October 1st, everything started to spiral.
“It’s been a really stressful time, especially when I got what I consider to be a good job, the government job. I got all my degrees to do this,” Tiffany shared. “It’s not just easy peasy to go out and find another job at the pay grade I’m at.”
Needing help to stay afloat, Tiffany called United Way 211. Thanks to generous community support, she was awarded a $1,000 prepaid debit card. United Way’s debit card initiative is currently in its third round. In 2025, the program has supported more than 600 households, with an average of $915 in aid awarded to help individuals meet urgent financial needs. While there is no restriction on how dollars can be spent, recipients have largely used the assistance to cover rent, utilities, food, car repairs, childcare, and medical costs.
“It was amazing. It was some type of relief, some support that’s really able to make a difference,” she said. “This is a big help for our family.”
To help United Way provide real-time solutions for families in need, consider making a year-end gift.