Yes, we are serious. This is not fake news or a Reddit rumour. It’s Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), a legitimate program that distributes money to qualified residents each year. The money is primarily derived from royalties on oil and other state resources.
Essentially, it serves as a massive savings account for Alaskans. If you live there and follow the rules, you’ll receive a small but significant portion of the stimulus payments program.
The projected amount for PFD stimulus checks recipents
The most recent payment in 2025 was $1,702. This figure did not appear out of nowhere; it is the result of a base dividend of approximately $1,403 and an additional energy bonus of nearly $300.
If you were able to have your application approved before June 11, 2025, that small sum of money should be in your pocket by June 18. Not bad for just calling Alaska home, huh?
Who can receive these PFD stimulus payments?
Be careful; it is not for everyone who spends a few days in Alaska. To be eligible for the PFD in a given year, you must have lived in the state for the entire preceding year. For example, to receive the 2026 payment, you must have been a resident throughout 2025.
Furthermore, you must have a genuine desire to stay in Alaska indefinitely, rather than just for a visit. Declaring residency in another state or country during that time will automatically disqualify you.
Being on the move does not count, either. You cannot have been out of state for more than 180 days without a valid and approved reason (such as military service or school). And, yes, you must have spent at least 72 consecutive hours in Alaska within the previous two years.
A criminal record also counts: serious convictions (felonies) disqualify you, and even minor offences can complicate matters if you have a criminal record.
Minors born or adopted during a particular fiscal year may be eligible for payment, but they must be cared for by an adult legal guardian or parent who meets the aforementioned requirements.
The Permanent Fund Dividend: How money is made
It all began in 1976, when Alaska decided to be strategic about its oil. They established the Alaska Permanent Fund with a constitutional amendment.
The idea was simple but brilliant: instead of spending every penny, save at least 25% of the royalties from oil, gas and minerals extracted on state lands.
The goal was to turn these finite resources into a long-term asset for today’s residents and future generations.
Today, this fund is massive. By 2025, it had surpassed $80 billion. How has it grown so much? Not just oil; the fund intelligently invests its initial capital in stocks, bonds, real estate, and private equity.
But here’s the golden rule: only the fund’s net investment profits are used to pay dividends. The principal remains untouched; it is protected, and some of the profits are reinvested to “shield” it from inflation.
The beneficiaries receive approximately half of the average net income from the previous five fiscal years, after accounting for administrative expenses and dividing it among all approved beneficiaries that year. So the amount varies according to how the fund performs and how many people apply.
The application window for this year has already closed; it typically runs from January 1st to March 31st. Missing these dates will mean having to wait until next year, so mark your calendars now.
