Rush is on as dividend deadline drops

Today is the last day to file for the 2005 Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.

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The Permanent Fund Dividend Division is expecting 70,000 Alaskans to file today - 60,000 by paper and 10,000 online.

"Every year, we see a big spike in the last week, with the biggest one on March 31," said Paul Dick, chief of operations of the division. "The deadline is the motivator for some people."

The division projects about 631,000 people will have applied for the 2005 dividend. The state will announce the amount of the 2005 dividend Sept. 21.

Last year the division denied 1,300 dividend applications because of late filing.

The dividend program, which was enacted in 1982, distributes a share of fund investment earnings to every qualified Alaska resident every year. Last year, about 600,760 Alaskans received $919.84 each.

Dick said March 31 is the hard deadline for the general public.

"Even if people don't have all supporting documents, they should still send in their applications," Dick said. "After we review their applications, we will send them a letter to ask them for the documents we need and they get 30 days to get back to us. There should be plenty of time."

Where to go

Juneau pfd office

Where: 11th floor of state office building

Telephone: 465-2326

Apply online: http://www.pfd.state.ak.us

Although the division encourages people to apply early, many people waited until the last two days to file their applications. The division office in Juneau received 240 walk-in applications Tuesday.

Skyler Lashley, an administrative clerk at the Juneau dividend office, said he has been busy answering all kinds of questions about the applications.

"One person called in to ask me how to fold the application and put it in an envelope," Lashley said. "I told him just to fold it in half. Then he asked me if he should fold it from top to bottom or from right to left. I told him either way should be fine."

Courtney Nelson was one of the many people who swarmed into the Juneau dividend office at the last two days.

Nelson, an expectant mother who was in labor, managed to go to the office to file for herself and her 13-month-old son, Porter.

"I've just been busy and I misplaced the forms," said Nelson, who was having contractions and expecting a baby boy Wednesday night. "But my husband said we should apply so I came here."

This will be the first year Porter receives his permanent fund dividend. Nelson, 36, said she would save Porter's for his college education and hers and her husband's for diapers, formulas and new hardwood floors.

David McCormick, a counselor at Bartlett Regional Hospital, said this is his first year to apply for the dividend. He walked into the office and told a clerk that he had no idea of what to do. When he finished all the paperwork, he said the procedure was much easier than he had expected.

"I am getting married in October. I will save the money for my honeymoon," said McCormick, 39. "It's a neat benefit for being an Alaskan."

• I-Chun Che can be reached at ichun.che@juneauempire.com.