Ok, reality check time about "moving to Alaska" (Anchorage: prices, airport)

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by blue62

Oh boy, look out guys, if this gets very widely known there will be thousands coming to Alaska and having babies every 11 months

Too late, the secret is out Between 1960 and 2000 Alaska's population has tripled and has more children per capita than any other state in the Union. Hmmmmm.... That may also explain why Alaska has the highest suicide rate per capita in the nation.

[Marty Van Diest]

People need to know that they can't just drive to Alaska and collect their check when they cross the border. They need to live here for a full year before they are eligible for the money.

I work with people all the time who expect that they should qualify for the permanent fund dividend when they have an Alaska address, job and drivers license. So Sorry.

But that is what keeps a lot of people in the state.

[Glitch]

Two years actually. They must be an Alaskan citizen for one year before they qualify for the dividend checks, and it takes one year for a resident to become an Alaskan citizen. Plus, if they arrive after March, they will have to wait an additional third year before they receive their first check. Of course if they are born in Alaska, they are automatically Alaskan citizens, no waiting period required.

There are additional disqualifiers as well, such has leaving the state for more than 90 days in a given year. Plus, any one who received state welfare in that year has that amount automatically deducted from their dividend check. There is a long list of qualifications and disqualifications, and what those dividend checks can be used for. Too many to get into in this thread, but if you are interested, check out the State of Alaska, Department of Revenue, Permanent Fund Dividend Division website for more information.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by sashaloves

my husband and I are thinking of making the big move up to alaska from colorado. We both have always wanted to but never have.
whats the best way to move up there...anyone know

SWIM!!

Originally Posted by msina

could you explain this to me? I may be dense but I don't understand, the State pays people to move there?

If I recall, I wrote a semi-serious look at the PFD (not to be confused with a lifejacket, or those things that always slow down your computer wanting to update Adobe Acrobat) http://www.city-data.com/forum/alask...2-pfd-you.html
All the best...

[steveeo&juju]

is it cheaper to fdrive then to fly?

[steveeo&juju]

opps my bad from texas to ak, yes weve lived in snwy weather yes we know it gets cold, were nature lovin ppl

[cobolt]

Why aren't people reading the archives to answer these same questions about moving up??? It gets annoying sometimes.

[Rance]

Coming from Texas your looking at 400 to 800 bucks to fly. Depending on how you eat and sleep on the road (hotels/restraunts), I don't think you can drive it that cheap.

And please do look through the older threads. You can even use the "search" feature and find some good info that has been re-told on many occasions.

[msina]

Xa'at, Thank you for the explanation. I am not thinking of moving to Alaska. I just didn't understand PFD. I do like this forum, the people are great and I learn something new all the time. What money people do get from PFD is certainly not enough to offset the cost of living. I admire people that have "life skills" and can actually survive without a Mcdonalds and a Wal-mart in town. I live in a very small town and learned early to cook, sew, and preserve food. We do have excellant fishing (including salmon) and hunting here and I do usually have a garden and go to the farms for staples. Extreme weather aside,.. life here, in the rural areas of Maine is somewhat similar.

[warptman]

There is a big difference between the rural areas of Alaska and Maine. The biggest one is that in Maine you can drive away and into a big city unlike most parts of Alaska. There are no similarities in my book.