A Complete Guide To Living Without A Social Security Number
Update From An Undocumented American
Dear Readers,
I am no longer the Girl Who Doesn’t Exist. It has been a long time since I wrote of my life without a social security number or birth certificate. I have undergone many changes. I am now a woman who doesn’t exist — a wife and a mother1.
I remain undocumented. But all these life changes warrant an update, especially now that I’ve moved my blog from WordPress to Substack and archived many of my old posts.
A few readers have asked that I compile all the information I have to offer in a single essay. I will be doing so here.
My Credentials
I recently discovered that my family has been in America since 1630, possibly earlier. It is said that a man by the name of Anthony Lamb came to America on the Mayflower wearing chains for not paying his taxes. His descendants continued to be rebels, some of them involved in the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
My family has been original Americans for twelve generations, opposing tyranny and taxation, and embracing eclectic religion — when looking through the family tree I noticed one large family with daughters named Freelove and Experience.
Keeping all this in mind, my great-grandfather wasn’t a radical for opting out of the social security system during the Great Depression. He was following the family tradition. He knew where he belonged, and he didn’t need new papers to prove it.
Because of his decision I remain a quintessential, legitimate American and I am not obliged to pay income taxes.
Despite being a natural born American, there are many who are skeptical of how I live life without a social security number or birth certificate.
Many “normie” Americans think I’m some sort of domestic terrorist, however I’m more religiously aligned with a Swarzentruber Amish2 than a sovereign citizen. The Amish are a simple, pacifistic people living by their tradition and faith, not paying much thought to the government. A sovereign citizen is one who rescinds their SSN, burns their birth certificate, and hides their children away in a bunker filled with guns.
I’m not interested in militias or self sufficiency or hiding away in a bunker. I’m a pacifist who doesn’t want to see my money being used to kill American babies or to drop bombs on Palestinian Christians.
I am also Catholic — I believe that the Church does a far better job of caring for the poor, the homeless, and the imprisoned than the government, and so I happily tithe to charities instead of the IRS.
I am often asked how it is possible to survive without a number. I often quip, “If the illegal immigrants can do it, so can I.” However, unlike them, there is nowhere I can be deported because my family has been in America from the start.
There are some 300,000 - 500,000 people in America, who like me, belong here and can’t be deported. Many of these Americans are called sovereign citizens, others identify as state sovereigns, some of them refuse the label because of the baggage associated with it. These people busy themselves organizing militias of three men and hoarding food and guns they’ll never use. Most of them are pretty harmless and lack the gumption to be very dangerous despite wearing thrifted military gear. They are reclusive and secretive and conspiratorial. They might share their secrets with you, but they always want several thousand dollars, and then they pontificate so much or aren’t well spoken you have a difficult time understanding them. Anything they write is painful to decipher. If they create websites, their aesthetics rape your eyes.
Although there are a few hundred thousand of these people, the communities are disconnected and disorganized. Children raised in these homes aren’t taught how to thrive in modern day America because the assumption is America will be collapsing at any moment and there is no future anyways, so why try to interact with the “beast”. Eventually children grow up, find out the world isn’t that scary or evil, abandon their parents, and sign up for a social security number then eagerly start paying their taxes in an attempt to become “normal”.
I don’t blame them. There’s little straightforward information out there on how to make life without a social security number work while living a semi-normal life. This blog was born out of desperation to find the community I needed to live the life I wanted to live without getting a social security number or birth certificate. I have made it work mostly because I have found that I am not alone.
I share this information freely so that others who were raised like me can make an informed decision when they leave the bunker for the sunlight. You don’t have to become chattel for the IRS when you break the chains put on you by doomsday parents.
Once I would’ve thought it impossible, but I have managed to work3, to travel4, to marry5, and to build community all without a number. I share the nuts and bolts here. I rarely publish content on this Subtack because I don’t want it to become cluttered with too many essays, but if you’re interested in following a more intimate look of how my life looks without papers, visit my other Substack, Polite Company.
Five Rules For The Undocumented American
Illegal Immigrants6 Safeguard American Liberties. You don’t have to like immigration, but remember if they can make the American Dream work for them without a number, it can work you, too.
Pretend to be Normal. For example, if you want to get your bank account, don’t start out by lecturing the teller on the sins of the government. Don’t give them any reason to not want to help you. Be respectful, wear a friendly smile, don’t announce that you are different, ask to open a bank account. By the time they request your number, they will be more willing to assist you because they now trust you and like you.
Every Blank Line Needs a Number. There are loopholes for everything. Remember that illegal immigrants make this work for them. Many organizations have bypass codes worked into their system in order to assist immigrants. These numbers are usually nine 0’s, 1’s 2’s, 8’s, or 9’s. Sometimes they are random numbers that a manager will know. A passport number also can work, although newer passport numbers now include letters.
You Own Your Table. You don’t work under the IRS’s table. Or Caesar’s. You aren’t a dog. You aren’t doing anything illegal. You have signed no contract and are not obliged to do so.
Embrace Challenge, But Avoid Unnecessary Battles. If you can, do things online. For example, apply for your bank account online instead of in person. If you must see a person, and they aren’t helping you, and you’ve been polite and acted normal, ask to see their manager. Persistence balanced with civility pays off.
What Are Your Options If You Already Have A Social Security Number?
This blog is not a guide for becoming a sovereign citizen. I can’t help you rescind your social security number. I’m here to tell my story only in the hopes that it might help others who were raised as I was. Perhaps my story will inspire you to raise your children likewise and equip you to do it in a way that won’t have your grown children resenting you.
If you choose to raise your children this way, I advise having an attitude of joy rather than fear. Nobody wants to be raised in a home where they are constantly scared of CPS and government raids. Children are naturally inclined to hope and they need to be allowed to dream. Furthermore, no matter what you do, you will not be able to keep your children safe from the government. If CPS decides to involve themselves with your family it won’t matter if your kids are numbered or unnumbered. So before choosing this lifestyle, make sure you are doing it for the correct reasons. Hatred nor fear for the government is not good enough.
You need to be motivated by some desire to better your children’s future.
Your goal should be only to make the necessary sacrifices to give your children choices of a better future. One of these sacrifices will be forfeiting dependent benefits7 when you file your taxes each year. This may seem costly, but your child’s future is worth the sacrifice.
There are things you can do to ensure your child’s success without a social security number. But first you will need to make sure that when they are born they aren’t assigned a number by their midwife or OBGYN.
If you choose to have a midwife, you will need to talk to her from the start about this and make sure she is onboard. Many midwives aren’t, and some will secretly file for your child’s birth certificate or number against your wishes.
If you choose to have a hospital birth, there is no need to talk to your doctor. When the baby is born, simply tell them you have not yet chosen a name for the baby, and ask them if you can take the paperwork home to fill out later? If they must have a name for records before releasing you, have them put down “baby” and whatever your last name is. Take the paperwork home and throw it away. Hospitals very rarely remember to follow up.
Now that your child doesn’t have a social security number or birth certificate, there is only one more think I recommend you do: get them a US passport, then use it to open a bank account for them. This will make it possible for your child to work and travel when they are grown.
How To Get A Passport
The most difficult thing to getting a passport as an undocumented American is proving your US citizenship. If you feel comfortable having a state issued birth certificate, this process will be made much easier. However, here’s what you do if you have neither a birth certificate nor a social security number.
Before you apply for your child’s passport, you will need:
Newspaper clipping of your baby’s birth announcement (you will also need to notify your local newspaper so they print the announcement)
Contact the state your child was born in and request a "Letter of No Record” to prove you have no birth certificate for your child.
Include a handwritten letter stating your child doesn’t have a social security number for religious purposes.
Bible with your child’s birth recorded in the family records. The passport agent will take a photo copy of this page.
Have two or more family members fill out a birth affidavit declaring they were present during or shortly after the baby’s birth affirming that your child is indeed your child. (If you are applying for yourself, you will still need these).
If you are applying for a passport for yourself you will also need to go to the IRS and request a statement that declares you do not exist in their database to prove that you do not have a social security number. More information on this in the driver’s license section.
When applying, you will need to:
Put zeros on the line that requests a social
Have two or more witnesses accompany you to your passport appointment in order to fill out the affidavits of identifying witness.
Some people prefer to mark that they are non-citizen nationals instead of US citizens. I don’t think this matters and put down that I am a US citizen.
I wrote about getting my passport here.
How To Get a Bank Account
Many small banks will still give you an account without a number. If you live in an area with a lot of old-order Amish who also don’t have social security numbers8, the teller may be more willing to work with you. Banks that cater to illegal immigrants are also easier to work with. I won’t give a list of banks that have worked for me just because I don’t want those loopholes to close, but there are several major banks that make it possible to get an account without a number.
For a larger bank, you may need a bypass code that a manager knows, or you might be able to use your passport number. I encourage trying to apply online if you want an account from a major bank. However, smaller banks are more flexible in person.
How to Get a Driver’s License
You will need:
A homemade, notarized birth certificate. It helps the document look more official if you use a seal9. When they ask for your birth certificate, hand your homemade birth certificate without clarifying that it is not State issued. They don’t care as long as you don’t draw attention to it.
A statement from the IRS stating you don’t exist in their database. You get this by walking into an IRS office, asking them to look you up, then when they can’t find you, request they print out a letter stating so.
An exemption form for the social security number. In some states this is often the other half of the Real ID exemption form. You have to explain your reasons for not having a number, and your reason can’t be monetary based. “Religious convictions” suffice.
I wrote about getting my driver’s license here.
Let’s Connect
When I first began my journey into society, I was scared. I didn’t think it was possible to exist in modern America without a number. There were few resources back then and a lot of uncharted territory. I have since made valuable connections and met many people who are doing all sorts of astounding things without a number. I know people who have bought crypto, have credit cards, hold political offices, and attend universities.
Anything is truly possible if you know the right person. The American Dream is not entirely passé.
I keep this material unpaywalled because I once needed it and would not have been able to pay for it. This information has been essential for achieving my happiness, and I know the same may be true for others.
However, if you feel led to support my work, you can buy me a coffee.
I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or stories of your own to share. Please send me a message on Substack.
Sincerely,
These essays are free to the public. However, if you enjoy this publication, consider buying a coffee for The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist!
My children are fifth generation undocumented Americans!!!!
Even though many of the Swarzentruber Amish are unnumbered and don’t pay income tax, they are not considered to be Sovereign Citizens.
I have done all sorts of odd jobs, but I ran my own cleaning business for about ten years and had about five-seven employees. I also worked as a professional seamstress at a dry cleaner’s for a couple years, specializing in formal wear and wedding dresses. This latter was my most illegal immigrant era. This all allowed me to live a very interesting life throughout my early twenties and have a decent savings when I married.
I traveled solo all over the states in my station wagon for months at a time, but also was an au pair in Germany for six months. While in Germany I traveled to several other nearby countries.
My husband and I married ourselves before God. We did not get a marriage license from the government, but filled out a homemade marriage contract and the front page of our Family Bible. My parents, grandparents, and many of my siblings were all married this way. After we are married, we file our marriage contracts as public records with the State to declare that we have been married. Afterwards, the women legally change their names at the courthouse or when reapplying for a driver’s license. You can get a marriage license without a social security number. My husband and I may do so at some point if it’s required when we have our marriage sacramentally convalidated in the Catholic Church.
Specifically Latino immigrants. I exclude Indian and Muslim immigrants only because they don’t share a similar American ethos with us as those from Mexico or Guatemala.
It was possible to claim unnumbered dependents when filing taxes, but President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on July 4, 2025 which now requires all dependents to have a SSN.
It’s more common for Amish to pay income tax numbers, now. But this isn’t always the case.
They can be customized and ordered at Staples. Ours say, “Not A Government Document”.