Stimulus Alert: The Truth Behind the $1,702 Payment Everyone’s Talking About

You might’ve seen buzz online or even in the news about a $1,702 stimulus check heading out in 2025. Sounds pretty great, right? But before you start planning how to spend it — let’s hit pause and clear up exactly what this payment is, who gets it, and what it actually means.

First of All: No, It’s Not a National Stimulus

Let’s get one thing out of the way. This is NOT a new federal stimulus check for everyone in the U.S.

The $1,702 payment people are talking about is specific to Alaska. It comes from something called the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) — a program that gives Alaskans a yearly payout from the state’s oil revenues.

So unless you live in Alaska, this check isn’t coming your way.

Why Is Alaska Sending Out $1,702?

Alaska’s oil industry makes a lot of money, and the state decided a long time ago to share a piece of that with its residents. Every year, the state puts a portion of oil profits into a fund and pays out dividends to people who qualify.

This year’s amount? $1,702 per person. It includes a base payment, plus a little extra to help with energy costs — since heating bills up there aren’t cheap.

Who’s Actually Getting This Check?

To get the check, here’s what someone needs to do:

• Live in Alaska full-time (and have lived there for all of 2024)

• Plan to keep living there

• Not have moved out or claimed residency in another state

• Have spent at least 72 hours in Alaska over the past two years

• Have a clean record — serious criminal convictions can disqualify you

• And… you had to apply by March 31, 2025

If you ticked all those boxes and your application was approved by June 11, you’ll see the money land in your account or mailbox around June 18, 2025.

What About Everyone Else?

If you don’t live in Alaska, this specific check doesn’t apply to you.

But don’t tune out just yet — some other states are offering their own forms of relief. It’s not always called a “stimulus,” but it’s still money that can help. For example:

• California has issued inflation relief payments

• New York sent out property tax rebates

• Colorado, Texas, and others have support programs for families or seniors

Each program has different rules, so it’s worth checking what your state offers.

Will There Be Another Federal Stimulus in 2025?

At this point, there’s no official federal stimulus planned for 2025. Yes, there are discussions happening in D.C. — especially around helping low-income families and new parents — but nothing has been passed by Congress.

So if someone tells you there’s a $1,702 check coming to every American, that’s not accurate. They’re probably just confusing it with Alaska’s payout.

Here’s the simple version:

• The $1,702 check is real — but it’s only for Alaskans who applied in time.

• It’s part of the state’s Permanent Fund Dividend, not a federal stimulus.

• If you live in another state, you won’t get this check — but you might be eligible for local relief programs.

• No new federal checks have been announced yet, but we’re keeping an eye on it.

If you want help finding out what financial help might be available where you live, just let me know your state — I’ll walk you through what’s out there.