A new wave of $1,702 stimulus checks is scheduled for distribution to eligible residents of Alaska starting in August 2025, through the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program. The disbursement falls under a broader landscape of state-level initiatives that have emerged in recent years.
According to The U.S. Sun, the upcoming round of stimulus checks aligns with annual timelines and established eligibility rules. While the precise allocation structure remains tied to existing state legislation, the payments arrive as part of Alaska’s regular economic policy, reflecting a model separate from the now-ended federal stimulus checks distributed during the pandemic.
The Permanent Fund Dividend: A Model Rooted in Oil Revenues
The Permanent Fund Dividend was created in 1980 by the Alaska Legislature and has issued annual payments to residents since 1982. Funded by revenues from the state’s oil and natural gas resources, the PFD varies in value each year based on oil prices and the investment performance of the fund.
For 2024, the total dividend amounts to $1,702, which includes $1,440 from the fund itself and a one-time $262 energy relief payment. The bonus component reflects higher-than-expected oil revenues during the past fiscal year.
Stimulus Checks: Payment Timeline for 2025
According to the official PFD website, payments will be distributed in four scheduled waves starting in August. The timeline is based on the “Eligible–Not Paid” status of applications:
- August 21, 2025: Applications from 2024 and the prior year with “Eligible–Not Paid” status as of August 13.
- September 11, 2025: Remaining eligible applications from 2024 and earlier not yet paid by September 3.
- October 2, 2025: First mass payment for 2025, for applications from 2025 and prior years with status “Eligible–Not Paid” as of September 18.
- October 23, 2025: Second mass payment for 2025, including all check and direct deposit payments from applications marked “Eligible–Not Paid” by October 13.
These stimulus checks will be sent via direct deposit for those who filed online with verified bank details, and by paper check for others.
Eligibility Requirements to Receive Your Check
To qualify for the 2024 PFD, individuals must have been Alaska residents for the entire 2024 calendar year and must not have taken actions indicating intent to move out of the state. Additional disqualifiers include extended incarceration and being claimed as a dependent by a non-resident.
Residents can check their status online through the official myPFD portal to confirm their eligibility and payment date.
Other States Offer Similar Guaranteed Income Programs
While “the federal government is no longer dishing out economic impact payments”, several U.S. states have implemented guaranteed income programs that function like localized stimulus checks:
- In Mississippi, the Magnolia Mother’s Trust provides $1,000 per month for 12 months to selected low-income mothers.
- In California, the Abundant Birth Project offers $1,000 monthly payments to expecting Black and Pacific Islander mothers.
Though these are targeted programs, they reflect a broader national interest in replicating the impact of earlier stimulus checks issued during the pandemic.
