Alaska State Ombudsman

10/16/2026

The Alaska State Ombudsman’s offices will be closed Monday in observance of the Alaska Day holiday. Information about us and our confidential and secure complaint portal are always available online at ombud.alaska.gov.

10/15/2026

Our office is often contacted with questions about the Heating Assistance Program, including when to apply, how to apply, and when the deadline is for applications.

This post includes information that answers those questions.

NEED HELP WITH HEATING EXPENSES? | Now you can submit your application to Alaska’s Heating Assistance program entirely online—and find out sooner if you qualify.

The program’s 2026-27 application season is underway and runs through April 30, 2027.

To apply online, go to the Alaska Connect portal, sign in, and select the orange button, “Apply for Heating Assistance.”

Apply now: https://direc.to/fV9a

Please note: To use this form, you will need to be registered for a myAlaska account. Paper forms and other service options remain available for Alaskans who need or prefer them. For help, visit your nearest Division of Public Assistance office or call 1-800-478-7778.

10/01/2026

Our office’s Juneau phone number, (907) 465-4970, is unexpectedly out of order while we migrate phone systems.

If you need to make a phone call to our office, please use our Anchorage number, (907) 269-5290. Complaints to the Ombudsman can also be made by emailing [email protected] or via our confidential and secure complaint portal.

We will post again when the outage is over.

09/29/2026

Permanent Fund Dividend distribution day is right around the corner.

Often this comes with an uptick in PFD-related complaints to our office. These slides include information that people may find useful if they have a PFD question, or are trying to resolve a PFD-related complaint.

09/25/2026

🌟 OMBUDS DAY: OFFICE OF OPTIONS
📅 October 8, 2026
📍 Wilda Marston Theater
⏰ 5:30 PM

Many people have never heard of an "Ombudsman", even though the profession has existed for centuries and every U.S. state has at least one office. The word “Ombudsman” is Scandinavian and loosely means “the people’s representative.” These offices help investigate complaints and work toward fair resolutions.

Every year, the second Thursday in October is Ombuds Day, celebrated internationally. This year’s theme is:

🎉 “Ombuds: Office of Options." A perfect fit for Alaska, where we have three ombuds office options:

• The Long Term Care Ombudsman
• The State Ombudsman
• The Anchorage Municipal Ombudsman

🌐 Why Ombuds Matter

More people than ever are looking for help, options, and fair solutions. Alaska’s ombuds offices are here to support and empower residents dealing with government agencies, public services, and long-term care issues.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit any of our offices online or contact us directly:

📞 Alaska Long Term Care Ombudsman: (907) 334-4480
📞 State Ombudsman: (907) 269-5290
📞 Anchorage Municipal Ombudsman: (907) 343-4461

🟦 Alaska Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Authorized by federal and state law, this office exists in every U.S. state and territory.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman:

• Visits long-term care facilities unannounced to monitor conditions
• Advocates for seniors
• Educates residents about their rights
• Investigates complaints made by or for seniors
• Helps with issues affecting seniors living in their own homes
• Provides information, referrals, and consultations for older adults, families, and care providers

🟩 State Ombudsman

Created in 1975, Alaska was one of the first states to establish a “classical ombuds.”

The State Ombudsman:

• Investigates complaints objectively (not an advocacy role)
• Reviews administrative actions by state agencies, boards, commissions, and public corporations
• Recommends fixes when problems are found
• Provides helpful referrals when complaints fall outside state jurisdiction

🟥 Anchorage Municipal Ombudsman

Founded in 1977 through Anchorage’s Home Rule Charter.

The Municipal Ombudsman:

• Investigates actions and issues involving municipal agencies, boards, commissions, and the Anchorage School District
• Recommends remedies, including policy or code changes
• Recognizes exceptional public service with the Above and Beyond Award

09/21/2026

Tomorrow is the first day of autumn, which means we're running out of time to share our office's summer quarter newsletter.
Outreach, professional development, and investigations made for a busy three months. Use the link in the comments to read about it.

09/03/2026

The Alaska State Ombudsman’s offices will be closed Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Information about us and our confidential and secure complaint portal are always available online at ombud.alaska.gov.