The number of Supplement Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) recipients facing unstable job status continues to grow, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than 40 million Americans receive SNAP assistance, which allows individuals to receive assistance for up to 36 months if they do not meet the 20 hour per week work requirement.

Experts believe this is not enough time for recipients to access assistance. SNAP is often received during periods of job loss, illness or long-term health challenges. Currently, only half of the people receiving SNAP were working the required number of hours. Additionally, 74 percent of those worked in the year prior to receiving SNAP.

Of those, 83 percent of SNAP recipients between the ages of 18 and 49, who did not live with children and didn’t receive additional disability benefits, had earnings.

The report found that SNAP participants tended to have higher job turnover and fluctuating hours. They were also more likely to have low paying jobs and were frequently changing jobs.

Experts believe more open regulations would allow people to access SNAP to ensure they have assistance when they need it and are not cut off before they can return to work.