The Amish do not have to get their children social security numbers until they actually work outside the home. Many Amish refuse earned income credit, and the like because to them it seems like a government handouts. ALthough the AMish pay all taxes, if they are self employed farmers, they can opt out of paying FICA on religious grounds. As a matter of Christian conviction,believing that the church should take care of its own,  they will never accept social security or other government subsidies so the US gov't allows them to forgo this tax. They do have to pay it if they work for non-amish businesses. Susan