Every year at the end of December, the month isn’t just a time for festive fun and holidays – it also becomes a topic of discussion due to questions and rumors surrounding certain economic relief programs. December 23, 2025, is right now during this time of the year: the biggest debate currently going on online concerns whether or not a stimulus payment of $1,000 will be disbursed in the United States on December 23, 2025. If such is the case, who will be eligible to receive it?
This dilemma weighs heavily in the minds of thousands, and many news channels, social media posts, and rumors seem to be hovering over it. Let’s understand it clearly in this article with the correct facts.
$1,000 Stimulus Payment: Is it Federal or State-Level?
The Significant change in agreement, no public announcement has so far come out from the US government related to a new federal $1,000 stimulus check to be disbursed on December 23, 2025. There is no new law related to this issue, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not even have such payments scheduled or planned. Therefore, one cannot say, “All American citizens will receive $1,000 on December 23,” because it is not true and based on rumors.
As some recent reports confirm, there was no announcement for a stimulus payment of $2,000 or $1,000 at the federal level by December 2025, nor has any known plan even been passed. In the case that it will happen, Congress, alongside the IRS, must approve an official stimulus check. Such approval has not yet been granted.
Who is actually receiving $1,000?
Now let’s talk about what is actually happening – and that is Alaska’s “Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)” program. This is an annual payment program in the state of Alaska, US, which operates under a state government plan that shares the state’s oil and natural resource revenues. Under this program, eligible Alaska residents receive a fixed amount each year — and for 2025, this amount has been set at approximately $1,000
This means that:
- This is not a federal stimulus payment
- This is a local (state-level) benefit from the State of Alaska
- Not every American receives it — only eligible Alaska residents do
Why is this payment happening in December?
Alaska PFD payments are typically issued in several phases throughout the year. This year’s $1,000 amount has been sent to many eligible individuals on various dates between October, November, and December. Those whose applications were in “Eligible–Not Paid” status received or are receiving this payment around December 18th and December 23rd.
According to several media reports, more than 600,000 Alaska residents are eligible for these annual dividend payments, and their funds are being sent directly to their bank accounts via direct deposit or as paper checks.
Eligibility — Who can receive it?
Now for the most important part — who is eligible and who is not?
Full-time resident of Alaska
The most significant and the primary requirement is that the person must have been resident for the whole year in Alaska. That means they have spent all months of 2024 in Alaska.
Not to claim residence in any other state.
If any person claimed their “residency” in another state for the year of 2024 or has the record of
residency elsewhere, he or she will not fit into the category for being eligible.
A physical presence in the state.
Eligible candidates should reside for at least 72 hours consecutively in Alaska if at any time they have traveled outside the state for other activities, such as work, school, or military service.
Condition of criminality
Individuals with certain serious criminal convictions or felony convictions are not eligible, especially if they committed a serious crime in 2024.
Only eligible applicants are receiving the $1,000 PFD payment under these rules.
If you did not apply for the PFD for 2025 or your status was not “Eligible–Not Paid,” you will not automatically receive this payment.
This is NOT a federal stimulus – why is this confusion happening?
- There are several reasons why people think this $1,000 is a “stimulus”:
- The word “stimulus” is often used in the media and viral posts to evoke emotion.
- People are receiving direct cash for their Christmas expenses, energy, and housing, which is causing confusion.
- Some rumors suggest the US government is giving out large checks to ordinary citizens – but these have no official basis.
In reality, this is a state-level benefit – the PFD (Permanent Fund Dividend), and it is not a payment like a federal stimulus check. At the federal level, no new stimulus checks or $1,000 cash payments have been implemented under any official program in the US this year.
Conclusion
The $1,000 payment being discussed on December 23, 2025, is not part of a federal stimulus check program, but rather a state-level payment issued under the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). This payment is only available to eligible Alaska residents who applied on time and met all eligibility requirements.
Calling it a general stimulus check is inaccurate, as this payment is distributed as part of Alaska’s official policy of sharing revenue from its natural resources with its citizens. To be clear, no new $1,000 federal stimulus checks were issued across the United States on December 23, 2025; this benefit is limited to eligible Alaska residents.
FAQs:
Q1. Is the $1,000 payment a federal stimulus check?
A. No, the $1,000 payment is not a federal stimulus check. It is a state-level payment under Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) program.
Q2. Who is eligible to receive the $1,000 payment on December 23, 2025?
A. Only eligible Alaska residents who applied for the Permanent Fund Dividend and met all residency and legal requirements can receive this payment.
A. Will all U.S. residents receive this $1,000 payment?
No, this payment is limited to qualified Alaska residents and is not available to residents of other U.S. states.
