More than 600,000 Americans are now qualified for a new round of stimulus payments. The proposed payments could be as high as $3,892, which would come in the form of a single check that you don’t have to repay to the government and can use for anything you want.
Since it began more than 40 years ago, the program has given out tens of millions of dollars every year. It is paid for by the profits of Alaska’s oil industry. The program is called Permanent Fund Dividend, and it gave out $1,702 last year. By 2025, a plan calls for checks to be sent out for $3,892.
$3,892 in PFD stimulus payouts are planned for 2025
In his budget plan for fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), which he turned in in December 2024, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy included a PFD of $3,892. The method used to come up with this amount is from 1982, but it hasn’t been used since 2016. The legislature agreed to a PFD of $1,702 in FY2025, which was less than the governor’s original plan of $3,400.
There will be a $1.5 billion shortfall in the state budget for FY2026, which is $14.2 billion. The Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR) funds would be used to pay for it. In the past, lawmakers have put spending on infrastructure and education ahead of full PFD payouts, which has caused ongoing political tensions.
Alaskans must have stayed in the state for the whole of 2024 in order to be eligible for the 2025 PFD. It is okay to be absent for work, military duty, or medical care. Based on past figures, it is thought that about 600,000 people are eligible. In earlier stories, it was written incorrectly that the person had lived there since 2004, but the rules only require the year before payment.
The applicant must show proof of permanent residence with rental agreements, work contracts, or medical records. If they don’t, they will automatically be disqualified from this benefit, even if they have gotten payments in the past. In 2024, the PFD program added an extra $298.17 for energy relief, for a total of $1,702.
Are there enough funds to send out $3,892 relief checks?
Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) amounts have gone up and down between $331.29 in 1984—the all-time low—and $3,284 in 2022. In 2016, the legislature stopped using the statutory method and instead changed the amounts based on other issues. There was only $1,403.83 in the base dividend in 2024; the rest of the amount went to energy relief.
Retail sales might go up if the PFD is big. For example, ACS Comp says that a payment of $3,284 in 2022 led to a 15% rise in this sector. In remote areas, where the dividend can make up to 10% of a low-income family’s annual income, it’s important to boost local businesses.
When can I expect the PFD funds to arrive?
The plan from Governor Dunleavy has made people in the legislature doubt it. Its original plan for $3,400 was cut by 49.5% in fiscal year 2025. The suggested amount of $3,892 for this year would mean cutting other services or raising taxes, which is a touchy subject in a state that doesn’t have any income or sales taxes.
The number for 2025 hasn’t been decided yet because it depends on the Alaska House of Representatives’ approval. However, legislative counterproposals range from $1,000 to $1,400, so it doesn’t look like all three,892 dollars will be given to all 600,000 eligible Alaskans.
Depending on the yearly schedule released by the Alaska Department of Revenue, direct deposits are usually sent out during the first week of October, and paper checks are usually sent soon after.