I wanted to alert you—if you live in Alaska, there’s a good chance you’re entitled to a $1,702 check this July. And no, this isn’t one random pandemic stimulus check. It’s part of a regular program that Alaska has been sending checks on for decades, called the Permanent Fund Dividend, or PFD.
These annual payments are the Alaska stimulus checks. They are funded by oil and natural gas revenues in Alaska and help cushion the blow on residents while pumping cash into the economy here.
What is the Alaska permanent fund dividend?
The PFD began life in the 1980s, following Alaska’s establishment of the Alaska Permanent Fund—a state-owned savings fund based on oil and natural resource income. Some of the fund’s earnings are returned to residents by the state.
The 2024 dividend is
$1,702 per person. That is:
- A $1,440 base dividend, and
- A $262 energy relief bonus, following the rise in the price of oil.
This is about 30% more than the $1,312 given to residents last year in 2023.
When will payments be mailed?
The official PFD website explains it this way when payment dates are planned:
- If your 2024 application shows “Eligible-Not Paid” as of July 9, your payment will be mailed on July 17, 2025.
- For approved applicants up to August 13, payments will be mailed on August 21, 2025.
So, if you’re eligible, you should receive that deposit in your account this month.
Who’s eligible to receive the $1,702?
You shouldn’t:
To be eligible for the 2024 PFD payment, you shouldn’t:
List any other state or foreign country as your residency
Have gotten any benefit based on any other state of residency since December 31, 2023
Not have a felony conviction or have been incarcerated in the last 12 months
Not have left Alaska for more than 180 days in the last year (there are some exemptions)
About 600,000 Alaskans receive this dividend annually. If that includes you, your check might come today.
Missed this year? There’s still hope for 2026
If you did not apply this year, don’t worry. Applications for the 2026 dividend are January 1 to March 31 next year. So mark that on your calendar and get ready to apply early.
Final thoughts
While other states are trying out guaranteed income programs—such as California’s $1,000 Abundant Birth Project and Mississippi’s Magnolia Mother’s Trust—Alaska’s PFD remains the most common and widespread.
So, if you’re an Alaskan resident, check your PFD status and keep an eye on your bank account. That $1,702 payment might already be on its way.
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