The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is set to be reauthorized through the Farm Bill in September of 2024, plays a crucial role in alleviating food insecurity in the United States (U.S.) among families with limited resources. As food insecurity rates rise post COVID-19 and participation in the program has slightly decreased, research is warranted to understand barriers to accessing government and food assistance resources and ways SNAP beneficiaries navigate changing food environments and attain nutrition security. In this research, we conducted interviews with SNAP beneficiaries residing in New York (NY) state through three qualitative aims. First, we aim to describe the lived experiences with food among individuals who rely on food assistance benefits to identify potential determinants related to nutrition security. Second, we aim to explore the barriers and facilitators to online food purchasing through an online meal kit and grocery platform tailored to SNAP audiences. Lastly, we aim to describe how stigma associated with the SNAP program manifests, where it emerges, and how beneficiaries respond to stigmatizing experiences to understand its role as a barrier to SNAP. From these three studies, we highlight the importance of the social environment in managing food resources, navigating new food environments such as those online, and combating social stigma surrounding food assistance programs like SNAP. Study findings reflect priorities and opportunities for SNAP as a food assistance program to better reach and support the needs of their target audience, including eligible, non-participants.