Ensure aid recipient includes usual application initially (9)
I believe the answer is:
guarantee
'ensure aid' is the definition.
'guarantee' can be an answer for 'ensure' ('guarantee' can be a synonym of 'ensure'). I'm not sure about the 'aid' bit.
'recipient includes usual application initially' is the wordplay.
'recipient' becomes 'grantee' (I've seen this before**).
'includes' is an insertion indicator.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'usual application' is 'ua'.
'grantee' going around 'ua' is 'GUARANTEE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for guarantee that I've seen before include "Formal promise of action" , "Provide financial security for" , "Assurance, warranty" , "Written assurance, pledge" , "security system" .)