Alaska is sending out direct resource transfers in the form of stimulus checks worth $1,702 to qualified residents during the 2025 fiscal year.
This money comes from the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program, which distributes part of Alaska’s oil revenue to its people. The 2025 payout is about 30% higher than the previous year, offering major financial relief to families.
Around 600,000 Alaskans, nearly 75% of the state’s population, meet the requirements to receive these annual payments.
What Are PFD Stimulus Checks?
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) was created in 1976 through a constitutional amendment. It works as a way for the state to share oil and natural resource profits directly with residents.
Instead of government-only spending, the money is invested, and part of the earnings go back to Alaskans as yearly payments.
For 2025, the PFD includes two components:
Base amount: $1,403.83
Energy supplement: $298.17 (to help with high fuel prices)
Payments can vary from year to year depending on oil prices, investment performance, and political decisions. For example:
In 2022, during the global energy crisis, Alaskans received a record $3,284.
In 2021, the payout was only $1,114, one of the lowest in recent years.
For a family of four, the 2025 payout equals $6,808, which is a big help in Alaska where living costs are among the highest in the US (for example, dairy products can cost over $10 each).
Alaska PFD 2025 Payment Timeline
The payments will roll out in stages:
August 21, 2025: First electronic deposits for early-approved applicants
Late August 2025: Paper checks and manual applications processed
September–October 2025: Remaining payments for late approvals
Who Qualifies for the PFD Stimulus Payment?
Not everyone automatically gets the PFD. To be eligible in 2025, residents must meet strict rules:
Must have lived in Alaska for all of 2024 and plan to stay permanently.
Cannot claim residency or benefits from another state or country after December 31, 2023.
Must have been physically present in Alaska for at least 72 hours in either 2023 or 2024.
Cannot be absent from the state for more than 180 days unless it falls under allowed reasons (like military service, education, or medical treatment).
Must not have been sentenced or incarcerated for a felony in 2024.
Must not have been jailed for a misdemeanor in 2024 if they already have a felony or two or more misdemeanors since 1997.
These conditions ensure that the dividend goes only to residents who are genuinely part of Alaska’s community.
A Longstanding Model of Wealth Sharing
Since the first payout in 1982 ($1,000 per resident), Alaska’s Permanent Fund has provided over $43,000 per person on average to long-term recipients.
While many other states and countries debate how to use natural resource wealth, Alaska continues to operate this unique system, balancing investment returns with community benefit.
The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is more than just a stimulus—it is a model of resource sharing that has lasted nearly five decades. In 2025, the $1,702 payout will help families handle high living costs and fuel expenses while reminding residents of their state’s unique wealth-sharing system.
For Alaskans, the PFD is not just money—it’s a yearly reminder that the benefits of natural resources are meant to be shared with the people.
