If you're expecting a stimulus check, you might want to read the fine print first.
A $1,000 payment is landing in some bank accounts on Thursday, June 18, 2026 — but before you get too excited, here's what you need to know: this isn't a federal stimulus check.
The money is actually the 2025 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), an annual payout given to eligible Alaska residents. The Alaska Department of Revenue has set this year's dividend at $1,000.
Who's Getting Paid on June 18?
Not everyone in Alaska will see money this week. To be included in the June 18 distribution, your 2025 (or prior year) PFD application must have reached "Eligible-Not Paid" status by June 10, 2026.
If your application didn't hit that checkpoint in time, you'll have to wait. The next payment round is scheduled for July 16, 2026, for applications that reach "Eligible-Not Paid" status by July 8.
What Does It Take to Qualify?
The Alaska PFD has some specific requirements. To be eligible for the 2025 dividend, applicants must:
- Have been Alaska residents for the entire 2024 calendar year
- Plan to stay in Alaska indefinitely at the time of application
- Not have claimed residency in another state or country — or received benefits from doing so — since December 31, 2023
Criminal History Matters Too
There are restrictions based on criminal records. You're not eligible if you:
- Were sentenced due to a felony conviction in 2024
- Spent any time incarcerated in 2024 because of a felony
- Were jailed in 2024 for certain misdemeanors (if you already had prior felony or multiple misdemeanor convictions)
Residency and Physical Presence Rules
Even if you call Alaska home, there are additional hoops to jump through:
- If you were out of Alaska for more than 180 days, you need to prove it was for an approved reason
- You must have been physically present in Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours at some point during 2023 or 2024
Too Late to Apply
Here's the important part: the 2026 PFD filing season has already closed. So if you haven't applied yet, this payment window isn't for you.
For those who have applied and are waiting, the best thing to do is check your official myPFD application status online. Don't assume you're automatically included — verify that your status reads "Eligible-Not Paid" to confirm you're in line for the June 18 payout.
Bottom line: Yes, $1,000 payments are going out this week — but only to a specific group of Alaskans who jumped through all the right hoops. If that's you, congratulations. If not, there's always next year.
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Read more: Social Security Payments Going Out This Week: Who Qualifies?
