In 1976, Alaska received a surprise check for $734,000 in oil royalties from the North Slope. Instead of spending it on parties, a visionary governor planted it as the seed of a “sovereign wealth fund”—the first in the U.S.
Nearly 50 years later, that seed has grown into a monster of $84.9 billion (yes, with a B for trillion!), surviving oil crises, stock market bubbles, and even pandemics, and becoming a program of stimulus checks for the state.
This beast is injecting $685 million into the local economy this December, with $1,000 per head for more than 685,000 eligible Alaskans that will get a stimulus check in their mailbox. It’s not a lottery, it’s not a subsidy… it is your piece of the mineral wealth, shared like a corporate dividend… but for the ENTIRE state.
The Entire United States Envies Alaska’s Stimulus Checks
Another 49 jealous states? Absolutely! This is the financial hack that could crash TikTok: “Move to Alaska and get paid to breathe snow!” (Okay, there’s a catch: full-time residency). Now, the full report, updated as of December 3, 2025, with fresh data from the Department of Revenue and the Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC).
The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is Alaska’s flagship program: an annual direct payment to eligible residents, funded by the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund, a sovereign wealth fund created in 1976 to save royalties from natural resources (mostly oil and gas) instead of burning them through volatile budgets.
It’s not charity or federal stimulus; it’s generational equity: the state invests, the pie grows, and everyone benefits. By 2025, the Personal Fund Debt (PFD) is $1,000 per person, fixed by state law (House Bill 53), and distributed in waves starting in October.
This year, with the fund booming (4.94% return in FY2025 and 9.59% over 5 years), the total distributed will exceed $685.3 million, covering approximately 90% of the state’s population. If you were a family of 4, that’s $4,000 free for heating, taxes, or other expenses that come with living in “America’s Last Frontier.”
How to Claim Your PFD Stimulus Check Payment
Alaska filters with an iron fist. You must say “yes” to ALL of this to be able to claim your payment in the last of the 2025 rounds, which is scheduled for December 18th.
- Total residence: Living in Alaskaall of 2024(Jan 1 – Dec 31), with permanent intention. Not even a weekend away counts as “vacation”, but temporary moves for work are okay if you demonstrate roots.
- Age and status: Anyone by December 31, 2024, even newborn babies! (Yes, diapers paid for with oil).
- Clean legal: No felony convictions in 2024, and no jail/probation >6 months. Excludes non-residents or dual citizens (e.g., claiming benefits in another state).
- Application: Automatic if you applied before (January-March 2025), but check in myPFD. Late applications until March 31, 2026, with penalties.
About 95% of applicants are accepted the first time, but there is also the option to appeal if you are rejected, and in case you believe they are wrong (you must provide evidence that this is the case).
Origin and Generation of Funds: The Miracle of Invested Oil
The Permanent Fund is a “state bank” that receives royalties and distributes wealth among Alaska residents:
Roots: 25% constitutional mineral royalties (oil/gas = 50% post-1979). Kickoff: $734K from Prudhoe Bay. Today, it is funded by bonds, legislative transfers, and anti-inflation measures.
Explosive growth: APFC invests in a global portfolio (equities 55%, bonds 20%, reals 10%, alternatives 15%). Realized gains (not paper gains) go to ERA.$93.7B accumulated since 1976Current value:$84.9B(31 Oct 2025), with $86B+ projected year-end.
Extraction for PFD: POMV rule (5% of the 5-year average market value). FY2025: ~$3.7B extracted (half to government, the rest to PFD). Oil is no longer king – external investments (e.g., 61 global properties) diversify, covering 50-60% of state operations.
Complete 2025 Payment Schedule
Payments in waves for efficiency (electronic first, checks later) as of today:
- 2 oct 2025: First >300,000 electronics.
- 23 oct: Paper/earrings.
- 20 nov: Pending as of Nov 12.
- 18 dic 2025: The big one! Outstanding as of Dec 10 – ~50,000-70,000 checks/DEP.
- 15 Jan 2026: Last stragglers.
Check it out myPFD to check the status of your payment, if you haven’t received it yetUpdate address/bank NOW (forms at pfd.alaska.gov). Special note: Typhoon Halong victims (West Alaska) – reroute checks to Egan Center, Anchorage; call (907) 269-0370.