Alaskan residency (College: lease, home, transfer)

[PJ Stephens]

My wife and I are residents in an other state, but would like to make Alaska our permanent residence. I am currently in the military and would like to make Alaska our home when I get out. What do we need to do? Also, what is the PDF, and does the PDF include educational funds for children or is that something separate?

[smtimelevi]

Shouldnt be a big deal, go to the DMV or what ever they have and say the same thing you just posted. They should send you and ID or DL within a few weeks. Would be even easier if you live off base/ post. Take your lease papers with you or orders and you home state id with you. Should be breeze.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by smtimelevi

Shouldnt be a big deal, go to the DMV or what ever they have and say the same thing you just posted. They should send you and ID or DL within a few weeks. Would be even easier if you live off base/ post. Take your lease papers with you or orders and you home state id with you. Should be breeze.

What part of Alaska are you in?

[AADAD]

Here is the information you may want.

Permanent Fund Dividend Division - Home

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by PJ Stephens

My wife and I are residents in an other state, but would like to make Alaska our permanent residence. I am currently in the military and would like to make Alaska our home when I get out. What do we need to do? Also, what is the PDF, and does the PDF include educational funds for children or is that something separate?

Alaska has some pretty strict residency requirements regarding the PFD and a few other things like subsistence hunting/fishing rights. Getting an AK driver's license is the first step of course but it's absolutely no guarantee of getting the PFD check, and it shouldn't be.

There are no direct educational benefits for children through the PFD, but smart parents put their childen's checks in a college fund instead of buying themselves ATVs and 4 Wheelers et al. One of the things that has always bugged me about the PFD is that parents have rights over their children's checks and quite a few of them waste it away.

Personally I haven't been a resident of AK for a couple of years now...it just worked out that way, even though I spend most of my time here. Even if I were I wouldn't bother with the PFD; I don't like the idea of having to answer to the state if I'm gone for more than 90 or so days. Taxwise I'd be better of being a resident of AK but what the hell...I wanted an Oregon library card and I've got a flock of liberal relatives in public office there I wanted to be able to vote for

Anyway, don't move up just for the PFD. That'll crash and burn within five or so years. Move up because you want to be here, and the rest will take care of itself. Best of luck to you.

[roadfamily6now]

I agree with the above. Becoming a resident AND qualifying for the PFD are two totally different things.

There is a College Fund you can put your PFD money into if you choose to do that.

And we are one of those families that never was able to save for college for our kids. We did not fetter away their money, we needed it for living expenses. Except last year, we took our kids to Hawaii! Best money ever spent!

[Bob Blockus]

Originally Posted by PJ Stephens

My wife and I are residents in an other state, but would like to make Alaska our permanent residence. I am currently in the military and would like to make Alaska our home when I get out. What do we need to do? Also, what is the PDF, and does the PDF include educational funds for children or is that something separate?

Try becoming residence of Alaska before you come out of the military. Because you could use the Alaska benefits right away when you do leave the Military. Have your wife Children Move to Alaska and stake grounds with utility bills as soon as possible. With Children the Oil Revenue benefits does add up. I hear it takes like three year process when State Residence Benefits start rolling in.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Originally Posted by Bob Blockus

Try becoming residence of Alaska before you come out of the military. Because you could use the Alaska benefits right away when you do leave the Military. Have your wife Children Move to Alaska and stake grounds with utility bills as soon as possible. With Children the Oil Revenue benefits does add up. I hear it takes like three year process when State Residence Benefits start rolling in.

If he's stationed here already and has his dependents with him, it is advisable to transfer his residency now instead of waiting. I know several military families who are already enjoying resident benefits because they know that they are not leaving when the tour is up and/or they're short. However, you can maintain your Alaskan residency while you're in the military even if you are stationed in another state and are forced to move... IF you intend to return here and continue to state that Alaska is your state of residency.

When in the military, getting a driver's license in another state (if that state requires it) does not automatically void your state of residency... registering to vote there does.

The timeline for Alaska benefits depends on the benefit and when you move here. The PFD requires you to have been resident for an entire calendar year (Jan 1 to Dec 31) before applying the following March and getting your check in the Fall... so if you get here Jan 2 of Year 1, you don't get a check until the fall of Year 3 (almost 2 3/4 years); but if you get here Dec 31 of Year 1, you still get your check in the fall of Year 3 (only 1 3/4 years). But other resident benefits, like hunting and fishing licenses, simply require you to have been resident for 365 days prior to applying. Other benefits have different residency requirements.

[RayinAK]

If stationed at another State, the only way to become an AK resident while in the military is by changing "home of records" to Alaska. I have no idea how that's done nowadays, but when I was in the military (I retired in 1994) was during a re-enlistment. Go to your Personnel's Office (CBPO if in the AF), and ask for home of records change.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

I agree with the above. Becoming a resident AND qualifying for the PFD are two totally different things.

There is a College Fund you can put your PFD money into if you choose to do that.

And we are one of those families that never was able to save for college for our kids. We did not fetter away their money, we needed it for living expenses. Except last year, we took our kids to Hawaii! Best money ever spent!

I'd say a trip to the sun is a great investment.

Nothing wrong with spending the kids checks on living expenses but I've seen so many who don't. I recall when they first started slinging around the free loot, idjits were coming up in droves. Back then you only had to live here for 6 months before you were eligible, and they didn't check into it much.