If you’re an Alaska resident wondering about that $1,702 payment everyone’s talking about, you’re in the right place. This isn’t some federal stimulus check or random government handout—it’s your annual share of Alaska’s oil wealth through the Permanent Fund Dividend program.

What Exactly Is This $1,702 Payment?

The $1,702 payment is Alaska’s 2025 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), which combines a regular dividend of approximately $1,440 with an additional $262 energy relief payment. Think of it as Alaska’s way of saying “thanks for living here” while helping you deal with those sky-high energy bills.

The program has been around since 1980, making this the 43rd year Alaskans have received their share of the state’s natural resources. Unlike federal payments that come and go, this is a reliable annual benefit that’s written into Alaska’s DNA.

Who Gets the Money in August?

Here’s the deal with August payments: if your application status shows “Eligible-Not Paid” by August 13, 2025, you’ll receive your payment on August 21, 2025. That’s just one of several payment dates throughout the year, not the only chance to get your money.

The state processes payments in batches to make sure everyone who qualifies gets their fair share. If you miss one payment date, don’t panic—there are multiple distribution periods throughout the year.

Do You Qualify? Here’s What Really Matters

Let’s cut through the bureaucratic language and talk about what you actually need to qualify for this payment.

You Must Be a True Alaska Resident You need to have been an Alaska resident for all of calendar year 2024 and have the intent to remain an Alaska resident indefinitely. This isn’t about where you happened to be on vacation—it’s about where you truly live and plan to stay.

The Physical Presence Rule You must have been physically present in Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours at some point during 2023 or 2024. Three days straight—that’s it. Most residents easily meet this requirement without even thinking about it.

Watch Your Travel Days Here’s where some people get tripped up: you cannot have been absent from the state for more than 180 days in 2024 unless you meet one of the allowable absence exceptions. Those exceptions include things like military service, medical treatment, or education. If you were gone longer than six months for vacation or work that wasn’t covered by these exceptions, you might be out of luck.

Criminal Background Considerations You must not have been convicted of certain felonies or incarcerated during the qualifying year. The state takes this seriously, but it’s not an automatic disqualification for every type of conviction.

Don’t Claim Residency Elsewhere You cannot have claimed residency in any other state or country or obtained a benefit as a result of a claim of residency in another state or country at any time since December 31, 2023. Getting an out-of-state driver’s license or voter registration can hurt your chances.

How to Check Your Status and Get Ready

The most important thing you can do right now is check your application status. Head to pfd.alaska.gov and log into the myPFD section. This tells you exactly where you stand and whether you’re on track for the August payment.

If you’ve moved or changed your banking information since applying, update it before August 31, 2025. The state won’t hunt you down if your address is wrong—they’ll just send your check to the old address, which is a headache nobody wants.

For direct deposit, make sure your bank account information is current. Paper checks take longer to arrive and can get lost in the mail, especially if you’ve moved.

What Makes This Year Different

This year’s payment includes that extra $262 energy relief bonus, which acknowledges what every Alaskan knows: heating and fuel costs are brutal. The legislature added this bonus specifically to help offset those expenses that hit families hard during the dark months.

Approximately 600,000 Alaska residents are expected to qualify for the $1,702 payment in 2025. That’s a massive injection of cash into the state’s economy, especially important for rural communities where this payment can make or break a family’s budget.

Smart Ways to Use Your Payment

Before you start planning how to spend your PFD, remember that it’s taxable income. The federal government will want their share when tax time comes around, so set aside money for that if you haven’t been paying quarterly taxes.

Many Alaskans use the 50/30/20 rule: 50% for needs like heating fuel, groceries, and rent; 30% for wants like entertainment or small purchases; and 20% for savings or paying down debt. In a state where winter expenses can be crushing, having this annual payment helps families prepare for the expensive months ahead.

Rural residents often use their PFD for bulk shopping trips to larger towns, stocking up on supplies that are expensive or hard to get in remote areas. Others put it toward medical travel—a reality for many Alaskans who need to travel for healthcare.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Don’t fall for scams claiming to speed up your payment or asking for personal information. The state will never ask you to pay fees to receive your PFD or request sensitive information through unofficial channels.

Make sure your application information is accurate. Small mistakes in addresses or banking details can delay your payment by months. If you’re unsure about anything, contact the PFD Division directly rather than guessing.

Also, remember that getting benefits from another state while claiming Alaska residency can disqualify you not just for this year, but potentially for future years too.

Alaska Residents

The PFD isn’t just free money—it’s your share of Alaska’s natural resource wealth. The program exists because Alaskans decided that the profits from oil should benefit everyone who chooses to make this challenging but beautiful state their home.

While politicians debate the future of the PFD, the program remains strong and continues to provide vital economic support to families across Alaska. For many households, especially in rural areas with limited economic opportunities, this annual payment is a crucial part of their financial planning.

Whether this is your first PFD or your fortieth, it represents something unique in American governance: a state that directly shares its resource wealth with its people. That $1,702 isn’t just a payment—it’s Alaska saying thank you for being part of this remarkable place.

ALSO READ: Alaska’s $1,705 Stimulus: Eligibility Rules and August Payment Schedule