Stimulus cash payments are one of the most immediate and direct ways in which state and local governments are able to alleviate their residents from imminent financial pressures. While these are not long-term solutions, they are most certainly welcomed by residents. While some states have begun distributing new, one-time stimulus check initiatives, other programs have been well established for years and are expected by residents. This one state is currently underway with sending out payments for these eligible recipients.
Improving the health of the economy through cash payments
Stimulus checks are usually paid out to residents as a once-off initiative in response to an economic crisis or need identified by local or federal governments. These payments promote spending in the economy in order to prevent a recession from occurring during a period of economic downturn.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment statistics reached heights not seen since the Great Depression. In response to this, the Biden Administration released three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to help families and individuals cope with the unexpected income loss due to retrenchment and job loss.
In addition, other stimulus check initiatives were released under the ‘Rescue America Plan’ (2021), which not only provided funding for the third EIP but also expanded the Child Tax Credit, extended unemployment benefits, and provided support for small businesses. The third EIP, amounting to $1,400, was still available to claim by eligible recipients up until this most recent tax season. Since these initiatives, no other widespread federal stimulus cash payment initiative has been announced until the recent legislation signing of the Trump Administration’s ‘Big, Beautiful, Bill’, which stipulates several new payment initiatives for eligible beneficiaries.
$1,700 cash for these eligible beneficiaries
While stimulus payments are not generally recurring, some states have established annual payment programs for their residents. One such payment initiative is Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program. Established over forty years ago, the program aims to ensure that as many of the approximate 600,000 residents of the state are able to share in the revenue generated by the state’s oil and mineral reserves.
The Alaska Department of Revenue is currently sending out the first round of PFD payments. This year, the PFD payment amounts to $1,702. The state imposes limited qualifying criteria for the program to ensure that as many residents as possible can cash in on these payments. To qualify, the following criteria must be met:
- You are a resident of Alaska
- You have lived in the state for at least 12 months with no plans to leave the state
- You have spent at least 72 continuous hours in the state in the past 24 months if you have a valid reason to be out of state
- You have not been incarcerated for a felony within the past 12 months
- If you have been previously convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors since 1997, you cannot have any misdemeanors against you in the past 12 months
When to expect your payment from the Permanent Fund Dividend
The first round of PFD payments was released on August 21 for residents whose dividend application status displayed as “Eligible-Not Paid” on August 13, 2025. The next round of payments will go out on September 11 for those residents whose 2024 (and prior year) dividend applications’ status reads as “Eligible-Not Paid” on September 3, 2025. Payments will continue to be released through October of this year.
Other payment programs that are currently underway in the nation include California‘s Family First Economic Support Pilot Program. This is a new initiative by the state, which is investigating the feasibility of establishing a guaranteed income program for low-income residents who have child dependents. California is one of the most expensive states in the country to live in, and the program intends to ensure that economically vulnerable residents of the state are adequately supported.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of stimulus checks, tax reliefs, tax rebates, tax credits, and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up to date and obtain information for your decision-making.
