The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) sends annual payments to qualified Alaskans. Money for this program comes straight from the Alaska Permanent Fund – that big state savings account started back in 1976. The cash gets originated mostly from oil and other natural resources pulled from Alaska’s ground.
The whole point is sharing resource wealth, in a form of stimulus checks, with people who actually live here year-round. You’ll need to clear some hurdles. First – and this is non-negotiable – you must have lived in Alaska nonstop from January 1 through December 31 of last year. Not six months. Not nine months. The full calendar year.
You’ve gotta prove you deserve this stimulus checks
Plus, you’ve got to prove you plan on sticking around Alaska permanently. Sure, they’ll cut some slack for specific absences: work trips, college semesters Outside, medical treatments, or military deployments. But blow past 180 days away without good reason: that’ll disqualify you.
The same goes if you spent time in jail or got convicted for certain crimes during that eligibility window. This will take away the money from you, since you’re not eligible anymore.
Payment amounts jump around yearly. Why? It all depends on how the fund’s investments perform and what lawmakers decide. Take last year: the 2024 PFD landed at $1,702 per person. Rewind the clock and you’ll see wild swings – from just $331.29 in 1984 all the way up to $3,284 during 2022’s record payout.
Heads up: they announce the new amount every September, but you won’t see actual cash until the following year.
Mark your calendars: 2025 PFD payment dates
This year’s payments roll out on three separate dates. Which one you get depends entirely on when your application clears the “Eligible-Not Paid” hurdle:
• June 18, 2025 if your status flipped to “Eligible-Not Paid” before June 11
• July 17, 2025 for applications hitting “Eligible-Not Paid” before July 9
• August 21, 2025 if you made the “Eligible-Not Paid” cut before August 13
Say your application cleared all requirements and hit that magic “Eligible-Not Paid” status before July 9? Your money lands July 17. Easy enough. To track where things stand, use the myPFD system on the official PFD website.
Who actually qualifies for these payments?
Eligibility boils down to two non-negotiable boxes:
- You physically lived in Alaska every single day of 2024 (January 1 – December 31)
- You genuinely intend to stay here indefinitely.
- That 180-day absence rule still applies: no long vacations unless it’s for approved work, school, medical, or military reasons. Important exclusions: if you sat in jail during 2024 or got convicted of felony crimes, forget about qualifying.
- Same goes if you collected another state’s benefits or claimed residency elsewhere last year.
Getting your application right for the PFD stimulus checks
Applying won’t cost you a dime. Choose between online or snail mail. Just gather these four things first:
- A current Alaska ID (driver’s license or state ID card)
- Solid proof you lived here last year
- Your Social Security card or number
- Banking details if you prefer direct deposit (checks take longer)
If you miss the March 31 deadline, you’re out of luck until next year’s cycle. Triple-check everything before submitting – especially bank numbers. One typo can hold up your payment for months.
Heads up: PFD offices completely shut down from July 7-18, 2025. Staff will be buried processing applications. Don’t bother calling or visiting – nobody will answer. The myPFD portal stays up though.
Taxes and security alerts: watch your money
Good news first: Alaska won’t touch a penny of your PFD money for state taxes. Now the federal catch: you must report it on your IRS return. That $1,702 counts as taxable income according to Uncle Sam.
Scam warning! Fraudsters love PFD season. Remember this official statement: “The PFD office never requests passwords or confidential information via text or email.” Always verify communications through official channels before handing over personal details.
