Alaska PFD 2025: $1,000 “Stimulus” Checks, November 20 & December 18 Payment Dates — What’s Really Happening Today, November 15, 2025

Anchorage, Alaska – November 15, 2025

More than 600,000 Alaskans are either receiving or about to receive $1,000 payments from the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) — a state benefit that many headlines are calling a “stimulus check.” At the same time, federal officials and fact‑checkers are scrambling to debunk viral claims of new nationwide IRS stimulus deposits this month.

Here’s a clear explainer of what’s real, what’s rumor, and what Alaska residents should know about the 2025 PFD payment schedule and eligibility as of today, November 15, 2025.

What Is the Alaska PFD — and Why Is 2025’s Check Only $1,000?

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend is an annual payment funded by the state’s oil and mineral revenues. A portion of those revenues is invested in the Alaska Permanent Fund; part of the earnings is then paid out to eligible residents once a year.

On September 22, the Alaska Department of Revenue confirmed that the 2025 dividend amount is $1,000 per eligible resident, with more than 600,000 Alaskans expected to qualify. ^[1]

That makes 2025’s payout significantly smaller than last year’s $1,702 dividend, which included an energy relief component. ^[2] Independent coverage has noted that this year’s amount is among the lowest in roughly two decades when adjusted for inflation, underscoring how heavily the final number now depends on annual budget negotiations instead of the older, formula‑based system. ^[3]

Despite the lower amount, for many households facing steep heating, fuel, and grocery costs, that $1,000 check still plays a crucial role in getting through winter.

Official 2025 Alaska PFD Payment Dates

The 2025 dividend isn’t paid all at once. Instead, the state sends money out in waves based on when applications are processed and when they move into “Eligible‑Not Paid” status.

Payments already sent

According to the Alaska Department of Revenue’s September press release: ^[4]

October 2, 2025 – First mass payment
- For 2025 applications that were filed online, requested direct deposit, and were marked “Eligible‑Not Paid” as of September 18.
October 23, 2025 – Second wave
- For 2025 applications (paper and electronic, checks and direct deposit) that were “Eligible‑Not Paid” as of October 13.

Local and national reporting estimates that these first two rounds already delivered payments to several hundred thousand Alaskans. ^[5]

What’s next: November, December, and January dates

The official payment schedule on the PFD website sets out the remaining key dates for 2025 and early 2026: ^[6]

November 20, 2025
- Covers 2025 (and prior‑year) applications that were in “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on November 12, 2025.
December 18, 2025
- Covers 2025 (and earlier) applications in “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on December 10, 2025.
January 15, 2026
- Final regularly scheduled payment for applications still in “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on January 7, 2026.

A fresh explainer published today by The Economic Times reiterates the same dates and emphasizes that updated December and January payout details are now public, with many residents seeing funds “within days” of each batch date once their status flips to “PAID” in the myPFD portal. ^[7]

If you log in today, November 15:

If your 2025 application showed “Eligible‑Not Paid” on November 12, you’re locked in for the November 20 payment.
If you missed that cutoff but later move into “Eligible‑Not Paid” before December 10, you’re in the December 18 batch.
Any remaining clean‑up or late‑resolved cases get picked up for January 15, 2026.

Special Update: Western Alaskans Displaced by Typhoon Halong

There is a very specific November 2025 update for residents displaced by Typhoon Halong. On November 13, the PFD Division announced that: ^[8]

Some post offices serving Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Napakiak remain temporarily closed due to flooding.
Displaced applicants temporarily staying in Anchorage shelters can now receive PFD checks and other USPS mail at the Egan Center Mail Unit (555 West 5th Avenue, 2nd floor, Anchorage).
Impacted residents can also email PFD staff or call the PFD phone line to have their checks rerouted.

If you’re from one of these communities and still waiting on a paper check, this is one of the most important updates for you this week.

Who Qualifies for the 2025 Alaska PFD?

While many headlines call the $1,000 payment a “stimulus check,” it is not universal. The eligibility rules are strict and are set out in state law and on the official PFD site. ^[9]

To qualify for the 2025 dividend, you must be able to answer “yes” to all of the following (simplified):

Alaska residency in 2024
- You were a resident of Alaska for all of calendar year 2024.
- On the day you applied in 2025, you intended to remain in Alaska indefinitely.
No residency claims elsewhere
- Since December 31, 2023, you have not claimed residency in another state or country, and you haven’t received resident benefits (like in‑state tuition or a resident hunting license) somewhere else.
Physical presence rule (72‑hour rule)
- You were physically present in Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours at some point in 2023 or 2024.
Criminal justice restrictions
- You were not sentenced for a felony in 2024.
- You were not incarcerated in 2024 for:
  - A felony conviction, or
  - A misdemeanor if you already had certain prior convictions.
Absence limits
- If you were out of Alaska for more than 180 days in 2024, it must have been for an allowable absence (such as active‑duty military service, full‑time study, medical treatment, or accompanying an eligible spouse). ^[10]

Children can receive the dividend too, but a parent or legal guardian has to file on their behalf, and that sponsoring adult must be eligible. ^[11]

Application Deadline for the 2025 PFD (And What It Means Today)

If you haven’t applied yet, there’s no way to jump into this year’s payments now.

The filing window for the 2025 PFD ran from January 1 to March 31, 2025, as confirmed by both official guidance and multiple news outlets. ^[12]
Any application submitted after March 31 was either rejected or, in limited hardship cases, subject to strict review.

Today, November 15, 2025, the focus is on:

Payment processing (October–January waves), and
Preparing for the next filing season.

According to current reporting, the 2026 PFD application period is expected to follow the familiar pattern and run from January 1 through March 31, 2026, with outlets like Unión Rayo already flagging those dates for would‑be applicants. ^[13] Final details will appear on the official PFD site closer to the start of the filing window.

How to Check Your PFD Status Today (November 15, 2025)

If you’re wondering whether you’re in the November 20 or December 18 batch, the only reliable way to check is through the state’s official tools.

Step 1: Go to the official PFD site

Visit pfd.alaska.gov and follow the prompts to log in to myPFD using your myAlaska credentials. The Department of Revenue prominently links to myPFD and encourages residents to use it for status updates. ^[14]

Step 2: Read your application status

Once logged in, look at the status line for your 2025 application:

“PAID” – Your payment has been issued. A blue “Details” button in the portal shows the amount, date, and method (check or direct deposit). ^[15]
“Eligible‑Not Paid” – You are approved but not yet paid. Which batch you’re in depends on the cutoff dates:
- If you were Eligible‑Not Paid on November 12, your check is scheduled for November 20.
- If you’re still Eligible‑Not Paid on December 10, you move into the December 18 batch.
- Remaining cases at January 7, 2026 will be paid on January 15, 2026. ^[16]

If your status says “In Review”, your application is still being processed. Many such cases involve identity verification, address changes, garnishments, or custody questions.

Step 3: Make sure your address and bank details are correct

The Department of Revenue is urging residents who have moved or changed bank accounts to update their information promptly: ^[17]

If you filed through myAlaska, you can usually update your address and direct deposit details in myPFD.
Otherwise, you must print and submit an Address Change and/or Payment Method form to the PFD office; changes are not accepted over the phone.

Watch out for phishing texts

The state has also posted a warning: myAlaska does not send text messages asking you to change your password. Any SMS or email asking you to “fix” your myAlaska login via a link is most likely a scam. ^[18]

Today’s Big Myth: “New IRS Stimulus Check in November 2025”

If you’ve searched “stimulus payment November 2025” today, you’re not alone — and that’s exactly why federal fact‑checkers are busy.

A detailed explainer published this morning by TechStock² and several mainstream outlets lays out the current status very clearly: there is no new federal IRS stimulus check or direct‑deposit relief payment approved for November 2025. TechStock²+2The Economic Times+2

Key points from today’s coverage:

The last federal economic impact payments were linked to the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, and the final deadline to claim missing amounts was April 15, 2025. No new nationwide program has been passed since. ^[19]
Viral posts promising $1,390, $1,702, or $2,000 federal checks this month often reuse the Alaska PFD numbers or misrepresent proposals that have not become law — such as former President Trump’s idea of a $2,000 “tariff dividend” funded by new tariffs. TechStock²+1
Multiple newsrooms and fact‑checkers emphasize that any true nationwide stimulus would require congressional legislation and a clear IRS announcement — neither of which exists right now. TechStock²+1

In other words:

If you’re seeing a headline about “IRS stimulus checks in November 2025,” it’s almost certainly talking about state‑level programs like Alaska’s PFD, or it’s simply wrong.

Why the Alaska PFD Looks Like a “Stimulus Check” — But Isn’t One

So why is Alaska’s PFD constantly pulled into national stimulus rumors?

The structure is similar: a lump‑sum payment, often arriving in the fall, with no work requirement.
Many national outlets frame the PFD as a kind of annual “stimulus check” because it injects hundreds of millions of dollars into the Alaska economy in a short period, boosting retail sales and helping households with seasonal expenses. ^[20]
In 2024, the PFD plus energy relief totaled $1,702, a number that keeps resurfacing in viral “$1,702 stimulus check” posts even though it was:
- A state payment, not an IRS program
- Tied to the 2024 dividend, not this year’s smaller $1,000 amount. ^[21]

That confusion is fueling a wave of click‑driven blog posts this week, but the underlying reality is simple:

If you’re not an Alaska resident who met the PFD rules, you are not getting a $1,000 or $1,702 “stimulus” from this program.
If you do live in Alaska and applied on time, your 2025 PFD payment is capped at $1,000.

Looking Ahead: 2026 PFD Filing Season

While 2025 payments are still rolling out, planning ahead matters:

The 2026 PFD filing window is expected to open on January 1, 2026, and close on March 31, 2026, mirroring past years and echoed in recent explainer coverage. ^[22]
Adults will again need to file their own applications and applications for any eligible children.
New residents should remember that you generally need to be an Alaska resident for a full calendar year before you qualify for a dividend. ^[23]

If you missed out this year because you forgot to apply or moved into the state mid‑2024, now is the time to mark your calendar and double‑check the rules.

Quick FAQ: Alaska PFD 2025 (As of November 15, 2025)

How much is the 2025 Alaska PFD?
$1,000 per eligible resident, as set by the Alaska Legislature and confirmed by the Department of Revenue. ^[24]

When are the remaining payment dates?

November 20, 2025 – For applications in “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on November 12, 2025
December 18, 2025 – For “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on December 10, 2025
January 15, 2026 – For “Eligible‑Not Paid” status on January 7, 2026 ^[25]

Can I still apply for the 2025 PFD?
No. The filing deadline (March 31, 2025) has passed. You’ll need to wait until the 2026 filing season. ^[26]

Is this the same as a new IRS stimulus check?
No. The Alaska PFD is a state benefit, and federal agencies have confirmed there are no new nationwide IRS stimulus payments approved for November 2025. TechStock²+2The Economic Times+2

Where should I go for official information?
Always rely on:

pfd.alaska.gov for payment schedules, eligibility rules, and the myPFD portal
Reputable local outlets and wire services (Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Public Media, AP, etc.) for context and analysis. ^[27]

$1702 Alaska Stimulus in August! PFD Payment Date, Eligibility & Updates