Alaskans will get PFD checks slightly earlier this year, governor announces

The state of Alaska will begin distributing payments of around $3,200 to eligible Alaskans on Tuesday, Sept. 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Facebook Friday afternoon. That amount includes this year’s Permanent Fund dividend as well as a one-time energy relief payment. 

Eligible Alaskans who selected direct deposit on their Permanent Fund dividend application are scheduled to get their payment on Sept. 20. Distribution for those that filed a paper application or requested a paper check will start the week of Oct. 3, according to a press release. 

The payment is expected to exceed $3,200. The exact amount will depend upon the number of eligible recipients. The payment includes an estimated $2,600 for the Permanent Fund dividend and $600 for the energy relief payment.

The combined payment will be the second-largest in state history when adjusted for inflation. The Permanent Fund dividend alone of about $2,600 would be the fifth-largest in state history when adjusted for inflation.

The Sept. 20 direct deposit distribution date is slightly earlier than the normal October distribution date. 

“We’re doing this early this year so that people could take advantage of getting the PFD early to take care of any expenses that they’ve incurred as a result of the high inflationary period we’ve been dealing with,” Dunleavy said in the Facebook video.

Correction: The payment is expected to exceed $3,200, according to a press release from governor’s office. A prior version of this article stated that the payments would be more than $3,200; the exact amount will depend upon the number of eligible recipients.