Fuel gauge stopped working

Yes, the circuit board goes bad from the wonderful fuel additives they put in all the fuels in every state.

So you are saying it is common? I have read fixing it is rather pricy so I am concerned and I am not yet sure if it is just the weather and it was just frozen once or a real issue.

No it is not uncommon the additives from the gas station damage them. What are the symptoms?

Yes, it is a common problem. The sending unit's get damaged by the fuel additives. What is the gauge doing? It is possible it's the sender, the gauge or the wiring, the symptoms might help to narrow it down.
For instance a good scan tool could be connected and run a gauge sweep test. You do that and the fuel gauge goes from empty to half tank and stays there, you likely have a bad stepper motor in the gauge.

At least there is one good thing, the pump in that car is easy to get to, You remove the back seat and it has an access cover, then it's just clean away dust/dirt, remove the cover, clean around the pump. Disconnect the pump wiring, start the engine and wait for it to run out of fuel. Then remove the pumps lock ring, disconnect the fuel lines and vacuum lines. remove the pump and level sender. Reverse the process to install the new pump. Test it, then re-seal the access plate. Reinstall the seat.

Sounds complicated. Was watching an YouTube video of it being replaced on a classic car and it looked fairly simple.

Sounds complicated, but it is not that bad because you have an access panel. This is similar, but your panel is under the back seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJzWPeDYNNM