The controversy over what is known as “application-requirementism” emerged in the latter half of 2025 following remarks by the President. Those remarks triggered a dispute between two competing perspectives: one arguing that requiring individuals to apply for benefits contributes both to hardship-related tragedies and to the non-take-up of benefits, and the other advocating stronger institutional safeguards while retaining the application procedure. The present dispute ought not to culminate in the hasty removal of the application procedure, but should instead serve as an occasion for further inquiry into the socio-economic hardships experienced by citizens, the causes underlying such hardships, and the reasons for exclusions from benefit receipt, all with a view to formulating more adequate policy responses. To be sure, there is more to why livelihood-related tragedies arise than insufficient cash assistance. Social assistance also needs to be strengthened to relieve the burdens of caregiving and nursing care, medical expenses, mental illness, and debt. From the standpoint of ensuring social rights, it is essential to identify and reform the institutional factors that impede citizens from becoming aware of and applying for social assistance programs.