If you live in Alaska, 2025 is shaping up to bring another round of financial help through the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). This year’s payout is set at $1,702 per eligible resident, giving families across the state a welcome boost just before winter sets in.
The PFD isn’t just free money out of thin air — it’s Alaska’s way of sharing the state’s oil wealth with its people. Created back in 1976, the fund was designed to preserve some of the state’s resource revenue for future generations. Every year, a portion of its earnings is distributed to residents, and in 2025 that amount comes out to $1,403.83 for the regular dividend plus an extra $298.17 in energy assistance approved by lawmakers.
Who Qualifies for the 2025 PFD?
The rules are strict but straightforward:
- You must have lived in Alaska all through 2024 with the intent to stay permanently.
- You need to have been in the state at least 72 consecutive hours during 2023 or 2024.
- Extended absences (over 180 days) are only allowed for reasons like school, medical treatment, or military service.
- If you had a felony or multiple misdemeanors in 2024, you’re not eligible.
- Everyone, including kids, has to file their own application.
Applications open February 1, 2025, and the deadline is March 31, 2025. Miss that window and you’ll have to wait until the next cycle in 2026.
Payment Timeline
If your application is approved, here’s what to expect:
- First big payout: September 11, 2025 (for applications marked “Eligible–Not Paid” by September 3).
- Second wave: October 2, 2025 (for those eligible by September 18).
- Third wave: October 23, 2025 (for those eligible by October 13).
Direct deposit is the fastest way to get your money. If you moved or changed banks, be sure to update your info by August 31, 2025, or you might face delays.
How to Apply
The easiest way is online:
- Go to pfd.alaska.gov.
- Log in or create a myAlaska account.
- Fill out your details, including proof of residency and banking info.
- Upload documents if you’ve been absent for an allowable reason.
- Double-check everything and submit before the deadline.
Paper forms are available too, but online filing is quicker and gives you instant confirmation.
Tax Reminder
Even though Alaska won’t tax your dividend, the IRS will. The PFD counts as taxable income, so make sure to report it when you file your 2025 taxes.
Why It Matters
For many Alaskan families, the PFD isn’t just extra cash — it helps cover heating bills, groceries, or even a winter trip outside. With $1,702 per person, a family of four could see more than $6,800 this fall.
The Permanent Fund Dividend remains one of the most unique programs in America, tying the state’s oil wealth directly to its residents. And as long as the fund remains strong, every fall will bring another round of payments — a tradition Alaskans have counted on for nearly 40 years.