Alaska’s Permanent Dividend Fund (PFD) has progressed through its 2025 payment cycle with an efficiency that demonstrates how mature the program is, and how deeply rooted these much-awaited stimulus checks are in the state’s economy for over four decades.
Derived from oil royalties that feed a collective investment fund, this mechanism annually distributes a direct portion to permanent residents, acting as a financial safety net in a territory where the cost of living can be high due to geographic isolation and the demands of extreme weather.
This year, the fixed amount per beneficiary was set at $1,000, an amount that, while modest compared to the $1,702 of 2024, still represents tangible relief for households facing rising utility costs before winter.
Two PFD stimulus checks rounds already gone
The first rounds of disbursements were completed in the first weeks of October, covering most of the applications that qualified during the review period that ended in September. On October 9, for example, the initial batch was processed, including direct deposits and postal checks for tens of thousands of residents, prioritizing those with verified bank accounts to expedite delivery.
A week later, on October 16, a second wave followed, addressing pending applications and reaching families in remote communities where postal access is sometimes complicated by the rugged terrain. Finally,
October 23 marked the third and largest round to date, distributing funds to more than 300,000 people and bringing the total number of recipients to around 500,000, according to preliminary reports from the Department of Revenue. These payments arrived in an autumn that was already bringing the first snowfalls, allowing many to promptly cover heating bills or seasonal supplies.
The last Alaska’s stimulus checks of 2025 now scheduled
However, the process is not yet complete. A final round is scheduled for November 20, for applications that remain in “Eligible-Not Paid” status at the close of reviews on November 12.
This disbursement, which could benefit the remaining approximately 160,000 eligible applicants, will maintain the same amount of $1,000 and will focus on cases that required additional appeals or late verifications, such as those of residents in areas with temporary postal disruptions.
A quick review on the PFD eligibility criteria
Eligibility for all rounds is governed by strict criteria that preserve the original purpose of the PFD as an incentive to remain in Alaska. To qualify, applicants had to have resided in the state for the entirety of the 2024 calendar year, with a declared intention to remain indefinitely, and not have claimed residency in another state or territory since 2023.
Additionally, a minimum physical presence of 72 hours in Alaska was required in each of the two years prior to application—a rule that filters out those with temporary ties. These rules, applied consistently, have allowed the program to reach more than 660,000 people in total by 2025, though they exclude nonresidents or those who do not meet the required documentation.
With the November round on the horizon, the Department of Revenue is preparing to close the current cycle and open applications for 2026 in the early months of next year, keeping alive a tradition that unites the community around its shared resources.