Dividend division plans change in public office hours

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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 6:21am

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Permanent Fund Dividend Division Director Sara Race and Anne Weske, the division's Administrative Operations Manager

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The division that processes applications for checks from Alaska's oil-wealth fund plans to close to the public on Wednesdays, starting next month.

Anne Weske, director of the Permanent Fund Dividend Division, said the intent is to give staff more time to focus on determining applicant eligibility.

She said the division gets many calls or questions that aren't fruitful, including people asking about their application status or what size the check will be.

She said the hope is that by closing offices to public contact on Wednesdays, employees can make more headway. She added Wednesdays have the lowest levels of calls or visits from the public.

Weske expects the change to be permanent but says offices will be open five days a week during the January through March filing season.

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