BOSTON, Mass. — The U.S. national average price of gas yesterday has fallen back under the $4 mark to $3.99 per gallon for the first time since early March, according to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform providing North American drivers with the most ways to save money on gas. Gas prices have declined over $1 per gallon since peaking at $5.03 on June 14, fueled by falling oil prices over the last month.
Americans today will spend nearly $400 million less on gasoline than they did in mid-June. It’s been a record-breaking year at the pump, with a majority of motorists seeing three different handled prices, including $3, $4 and $5. Beginning in March, gas prices in the U.S. rose above $4 per gallon for the first time since 2008, as Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Global supply began to tighten, with demand also rising into the summer, causing inventories to tighten to uncomfortable levels.
The previous record-high of $4.10 per gallon was broken in April, and gas prices soared to a new all-time high average of $5.03 per gallon in June. Areas of California saw average prices near $7 per gallon this summer, and diesel prices saw their biggest premium to gasoline prices ever.
“A critical part of recovering from disasters such as these is the ability to continue to provide for our families and take care of their needs,” says Department Director Anna Hui. “That’s why disaster unemployment assistance benefits are so important as our families and communities recover.”
The Missouri Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Security will be accepting applications for DUA through September 9, 2022 from affected individuals in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis and St. Charles Counties. Eligibility for DUA will be determined on a week-to-week basis and individuals can only receive benefits for as long as his or her unemployment continues as a direct result of the disaster.
To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-DR-4665-MO, individuals:
- Must be an unemployed or self-employed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President
- Must be a U.S. national or a qualified alien; and
- Must not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state; and
- Must have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
- Must establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
Also eligible to apply for DUA are individuals who:
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster; or
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster; or
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or
- Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.
Applicants are required to provide proof that they were employed or self-employed at the time the disaster occurred or were scheduled to begin work when the disaster occurred. This proof of employment must be filed with the initial claim or within 21 days of filling their DUA claim. To claim, individuals will need their Social Security Number and the name and address of their last employer or prospective employer.
A copy of the most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs may also be required (self-employed individuals should also provide Schedules SE and Schedule
C or Schedule F).
To file a DUA claim online 24/7 visit uinteract.labor.mo.gov. For assistance with filing a claim, call your Regional Claims Center (see below) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Missourians impacted by the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in all the declared counties can register for additional assistance by calling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at (800) 621-3362, TTY (800) 462-7585, or register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Regional Claims Centers
Jefferson City……………………573-751-9040
Kansas City………………………816-889-3101
St. Louis …………………………314-340-4950
Springfield ………………………417-895-6851
Outside Local Calling Area ……..800-320-2519
To find additional resources across the state, visit the Missouri Recovery Portal at recovery.mo.gov.