Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) distribution annually distributes a portion of the state’s natural resource revenue to qualifying residents. For fiscal year 2025, the Alaska Department of Revenue has established a total payment of $1,702 for each approved applicant.
This amount consists of a base dividend estimated at $1,403.83 and a supplement of $298.17 designated as assistance with energy costs. The program is funded through the Alaska Permanent Fund, an entity established in 1976 that manages oil royalties.
How many Alaskans will receive PFD stimulus checks in 2025?
The program’s estimated number is around 600,000, which is those who meet the program’s strict residency and other criteria, indicating that not all Alaska residents are eligible. This number represents nearly 80% of Alaska’s total population, which is approximately 741,000 permanent residents.
The distribution process for fiscal year 2025 follows a predefined and public schedule. The first mass distribution of funds is scheduled for October 2, 2025. This date applies to applications with an “Eligible-Not Paid” status after the September 18, 2025, review. A second disbursement is scheduled for October 23, 2025, based on the application status as of October 13. Payments are primarily made via direct deposit, while physical checks are mailed thereafter.
Payments for pending applications from prior years will begin processing on August 21, 2025. Individual application status verification must be completed through the “myPFD” electronic portal on the program’s official website. Updating bank and contact information was a mandatory requirement and must be completed by August 31, 2025, to avoid delays in receiving funds.
The mandatory requirements to qualify for PFD
Eligibility for the 2025 PFD payment is governed by a strict set of residency rules. The key requirement is that an individual must have resided continuously within the state of Alaska for the entire 2024 calendar year. The law prohibits having declared tax residency in any other state or country after December 31, 2023.
Absences from the territory for more than 180 days during 2024 invalidate eligibility, with limited exceptions detailed in the statute.
Allowable exceptions for extended absences include active military service, enrollment in an out-of-state educational institution, or the need for specialized medical treatment unavailable in Alaska.
Additionally, applicants must not have any felony convictions in the previous twelve months or have served jail time for any offense during 2024 An additional requirement is to have been physically present in the state for at least 72 consecutive hours in either 2023 or 2024.
The application period for the 2025 PFD was irrevocable. The application window was extended from January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. All documentation required to prove residency and eligibility must be submitted within that period. There are no provisions for late applications or for correcting documentation once the process is closed, according to official communications from the department.
Keep in mind that this payment is different from other federal programs, such as those distributed by Donald Trump during his first administration during the pandemic: those stimulus checks were funded by debt issuance, while the PFD program is funded exclusively by profits from the exploitation of the state’s natural resources.
If you do not receive your scheduled payment on the due date, you are advised to follow a verification protocol. The first step is to check the status of your application on the “myPFD” portal on the website pfd.alaska.gov. The status must be “Eligible-Not Paid” for the payment to be pending. It is imperative to confirm that the bank information for direct deposit or the mailing address for physical delivery are correct and up-to-date.
