Alaska Stimulus Checks of $1,700 Arriving in 6 Days – Who Qualifies in December?

If you’re an Alaskan resident, December might come with a surprise bonus—because in just six days, a fresh round of $1,700 stimulus checks will hit bank accounts. While most Americans have long since received their COVID-era payments, Alaska stands out for continuing its own version of stimulus support year after year through the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD).

Let’s unpack why these payments are happening, who’s eligible, and what you can expect.

Purpose

Stimulus checks have been a go-to method for both federal and state governments to deliver fast financial relief. Unlike monthly benefits, stimulus payments are typically one-time injections of cash, designed to ease immediate financial pressure.

Remember the COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments (EIPs)? Between March 2020 and March 2021, three rounds of stimulus checks were distributed by the Biden administration, helping millions navigate job loss and economic instability. Those checks were vital in preventing financial free-fall during one of the worst employment crises since the Great Depression.

This year, while rumors flew about a $5,000 federal stimulus, no such payments were approved. However, there are real, verified checks going out—and Alaska is leading the way.

History

Alaska has a unique program that’s been around for decades: the Permanent Fund Dividend. Unlike federal relief payments triggered by emergencies, this annual stimulus check is drawn from Alaska’s oil revenues. Think of it as the residents’ share of the state’s mineral wealth.

The program is run by the Alaska Department of Revenue, and nearly 600,000 residents qualify for it every year. In 2025, the payment amount is $1,702 per eligible resident—and the next payout is scheduled for December 11.

That’s right. If your application shows “Eligible – Not Paid” status by December 3, you’ll see money deposited on December 11, 2025.

Criteria

Eligibility isn’t automatic. There are several boxes to check before you can claim your annual dividend:

• You must have lived in Alaska for at least 12 months
• You cannot have plans to move out of the state
• If you’ve been temporarily out of state (for school, military, etc.), you need to have spent at least 72 consecutive hours in Alaska in the last two years
• You must not have been incarcerated for a felony within the last 12 months
• If you’ve been convicted of a felony (or two misdemeanors) since 1997, you can’t have any new misdemeanors in the past 12 months

In short, this is a reward for long-term, law-abiding Alaskan residents.

Timeline

Payments aren’t distributed all at once, so it’s important to know your payment window. Here’s how the 2025 timeline looks for those waiting on their checks:

Application Status Date	Payment Distribution Date
December 3, 2025	December 11, 2025
October 13, 2025	October 23, 2025
August 21, 2025 (first round)	Already paid
December 18, 2025	October 2, 2025

If you’ve checked your application and it reads “Eligible – Not Paid,” match the status date to the closest upcoming payout. You can check your application status on the official PFD website.

Future

While Alaska’s PFD remains strong, federal stimulus programs have quieted down. The last chance to claim the third EIP of $1,400 was during the most recent tax season.

Looking ahead, a new initiative called “Trump Accounts” has been announced, offering $1,000 per child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. Though it’s not a traditional stimulus check, it’s another way the government plans to support families financially, with parents allowed to contribute up to $5,000 annually to these accounts.

For now, Alaskans are in a good spot—receiving consistent support thanks to the state’s oil-driven dividend. Whether you’re saving it, spending it on the holidays, or putting it toward bills, this annual boost is one of the biggest state-funded payments in the U.S.

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