In 2025, nearly 500,000 Alaskan residents will receive a one-time payment of up to $1,702 through the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). This program, designed to share the state’s oil wealth with its residents, aims to help offset the high cost of living in Alaska.
The payment represents a 30% increase from 2024, reflecting strong fund performance and bipartisan support from the state legislature. The total includes a special energy relief bonus of $298.17, bringing the full payment to $1,702.
Payment Schedule for 2025
The PFD payments will be distributed in three main batches throughout the year:
June 18, 2025: For applications marked as “Eligible-Not Paid” before June 11.
July 17, 2025: For the next batch.
August 21, 2025: The final round of payments.
Who’s Eligible for the 2025 PFD Stimulus?
Eligibility for the 2025 PFD is fairly straightforward, with four main requirements:
Residency: You must be an Alaska resident for all of 2024.
Physical Presence: You need to have physically resided in the state for at least 72 consecutive hours during 2024.
Criminal Record: You should not have any felony convictions or incarcerations lasting over one year.
Application Deadline: You must submit your application by March 31, 2025, via the Alaska Department of Revenue.
Residents can apply online through Alaska’s myPFD portal. If you’ve moved, be sure to update your address to avoid payment delays. Payments will be made either by direct deposit or paper check. Note that the IRS considers the PFD as federally taxable income, though Alaska itself does not impose a state income tax.
Debate Over PFD’s Future
As the 2025 payment rolls out, state lawmakers are already discussing the future of the PFD. House Bill 359 (HB359) proposes increasing the PFD to $5,000 annually from 2026 to 2028, which has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the fund.
The PFD Division will close from July 7 to July 18, 2025, to process applications, and public inquiries will be limited during this time.
Financing the PFD Program
The PFD was created in 1976 after Alaska voters amended the state constitution to establish a savings account for oil revenue. The first dividend was distributed in 1982, and the program has since become a staple of Alaska’s economy. Payments fluctuate each year based on the state’s oil revenues and legislative decisions.
In the last decade, PFD amounts have varied widely, with the highest payment being $2,072 in 2015, and the lowest being $1,114 in 2020. More recent payouts included $1,312 in 2021, $3,284 in 2022, and $1,312 again in 2023.
The projected amount for 2025 is $1,702, reflecting an energy relief bonus. The fluctuations are tied to the oil market and political decisions, but the PFD remains an important source of financial support, particularly in rural areas where the cost of living is high.
