diff --git a/frontend/assign-and-start.js b/frontend/assign-and-start.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c02cfc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/assign-and-start.js
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+function createAssignAndStart({ available, claim, start, recover, announce }) {
+  let request = null;
+
+  function run(item) {
+    if (request) return request;
+    if (!available()) {
+      announce('Today is full—remove an item before assigning this issue.');
+      return Promise.resolve('full');
+    }
+    request = Promise.resolve()
+      .then(() => claim(item))
+      .then(confirmed => {
+        const outcome = start(confirmed);
+        if (outcome === 'started') {
+          announce('Assigned, added to Today, and ready to work.');
+          return outcome;
+        }
+        announce('Assigned to you, but Today could not start. The issue is open so you can recover.');
+        recover(confirmed);
+        return 'recovery';
+      })
+      .finally(() => { request = null; });
+    return request;
+  }
+
+  return { run };
+}
+
+if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) module.exports = createAssignAndStart;
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.css b/frontend/dashboard.css
index 302bbd5..89878ca 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.css
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.css
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; min-height: 120px; }
 .find-work-list { display:grid; gap:10px; }
 .find-work-card { display:grid; gap:8px; padding:12px; border:1px solid #2a496e; border-radius:12px; background:#101f36; overflow-wrap:anywhere; }
 .find-work-card button { width:100%; font-weight:700; }
+.find-work-claim-actions { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr)); gap:8px; }
 .find-work-detail { min-width:0; display:grid; gap:10px; padding:10px; border-radius:10px; background:#0b1526; }
 .find-work-description { margin:0; white-space:pre-wrap; overflow-wrap:anywhere; }
 .find-work-detail a { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; border:1px solid #60a5fa; border-radius:10px; font-weight:700; }
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.js b/frontend/dashboard.js
index 1a60eca..83dfe83 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.js
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.js
@@ -757,6 +757,38 @@
     announce: message => { qs('#my-work-action-status').textContent = message; },
   });
 
+  function acceptClaimedIssue(confirmed) {
+    lastContextSnapshot = lastContextSnapshot || { user: {}, repos: [], issues: [], pull_requests: [] };
+    lastContextSnapshot.issues = [confirmed].concat((lastContextSnapshot.issues || []).filter(candidate =>
+      candidate.repository !== confirmed.repository || candidate.number !== confirmed.number
+    ));
+    lastMyWork = buildMyWork(lastContextSnapshot);
+    return lastMyWork.find(work =>
+      work.kind === 'issue' && work.repository === confirmed.repository && work.number === confirmed.number
+    );
+  }
+
+  const assignAndStart = createAssignAndStart({
+    available: createAndStart.available,
+    claim: item => findWorkController.claim(item),
+    start: confirmed => {
+      const claimed = acceptClaimedIssue(confirmed);
+      taskOverlayHistory.leave();
+      refreshMyWorkView();
+      return createAndStart.complete(claimed);
+    },
+    recover: confirmed => {
+      const claimed = acceptClaimedIssue(confirmed);
+      taskOverlayHistory.leave();
+      refreshMyWorkView();
+      openRoutedWork(claimed, qs('#find-work'));
+    },
+    announce: message => {
+      qs('#find-work-status').textContent = message;
+      qs('#my-work-action-status').textContent = message;
+    },
+  });
+
   let planTodayTrigger = null;
   function planTodayItemMarkup(item, selected, index = -1) {
     const id = todayWork.identity(item);
@@ -1869,7 +1901,9 @@
       '<div>' + (item.labels || []).map(label => '<span class="pill">' + escapeHtml(label) + '</span>').join(' ') +
       '</div><button type="button" data-preview-index="' + index + '" aria-expanded="' + expanded +
       '" aria-controls="' + detailId + '">' + (expanded ? 'Hide details' : 'View details') + '</button>' +
-      detail + '<button type="button" data-claim-index="' + index + '">Assign to me</button></article>';
+      detail + '<div class="find-work-claim-actions"><button type="button" data-claim-index="' + index +
+      '">Assign to me</button><button type="button" data-claim-start-index="' + index +
+      '">Assign &amp; start</button></div></article>';
     }).join('') : '<div class="muted">No unassigned issues are available on this page.</div>';
     list.querySelectorAll('[data-preview-index]').forEach(button => {
       button.addEventListener('click', () => {
@@ -1889,12 +1923,7 @@
         button.disabled = true;
         try {
           const confirmed = await findWorkController.claim(item);
-          lastContextSnapshot = lastContextSnapshot || { user: {}, repos: [], issues: [], pull_requests: [] };
-          lastContextSnapshot.issues = [confirmed].concat(lastContextSnapshot.issues || []);
-          lastMyWork = buildMyWork(lastContextSnapshot);
-          const claimed = lastMyWork.find(work =>
-            work.kind === 'issue' && work.repository === confirmed.repository && work.number === confirmed.number
-          );
+          const claimed = acceptClaimedIssue(confirmed);
           taskOverlayHistory.leave();
           refreshMyWorkView();
           qs('#my-work-action-status').textContent = confirmed.repository + '#' + confirmed.number + ' assigned to you.';
@@ -1906,6 +1935,22 @@
         }
       });
     });
+    list.querySelectorAll('[data-claim-start-index]').forEach(button => {
+      button.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+        const item = findWorkController.items()[Number(button.dataset.claimStartIndex)];
+        if (!item) return;
+        const claimButtons = button.closest('.find-work-card')
+          .querySelectorAll('[data-claim-index], [data-claim-start-index]');
+        claimButtons.forEach(action => { action.disabled = true; });
+        try {
+          await assignAndStart.run(item);
+        } catch (error) {
+          qs('#find-work-status').textContent = error.message + ' Nothing was added to Today; retry assignment.';
+          claimButtons.forEach(action => { action.disabled = false; });
+          button.focus();
+        }
+      });
+    });
   }
 
   async function openFindWorkSheet(navigate = true) {
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index b68af68..ada1710 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -606,6 +606,7 @@
 <script src="static/issue-sheet.js"></script>
 <script src="static/create-issue-sheet.js"></script>
 <script src="static/create-and-start.js"></script>
+<script src="static/assign-and-start.js"></script>
 <script src="static/pull-sheet.js"></script>
 <script src="static/review-sheet.js"></script>
 <script src="static/work-route.js"></script>
diff --git a/frontend/service-worker.js b/frontend/service-worker.js
index aa9a011..e3a878f 100644
--- a/frontend/service-worker.js
+++ b/frontend/service-worker.js
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ const SHELL = [
   BASE + 'static/issue-sheet.js',
   BASE + 'static/create-issue-sheet.js',
   BASE + 'static/create-and-start.js',
+  BASE + 'static/assign-and-start.js',
   BASE + 'static/pull-sheet.js',
   BASE + 'static/review-sheet.js',
   BASE + 'static/work-route.js',
diff --git a/tests/test_assign_and_start.py b/tests/test_assign_and_start.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8f9a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_assign_and_start.py
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+import json
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+ASSIGN_AND_START = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "frontend" / "assign-and-start.js"
+DASHBOARD = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "frontend" / "dashboard.js"
+CSS = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "frontend" / "dashboard.css"
+WORKER = Path(__file__).parents[1] / "frontend" / "service-worker.js"
+
+
+def run_node(script):
+    return json.loads(subprocess.run(
+        ["node", "-e", script], check=True, capture_output=True, text=True
+    ).stdout)
+
+
+def test_repeated_assign_and_start_taps_claim_once_then_start_confirmed_issue():
+    script = f"""
+const fs=require('fs');
+if (!fs.existsSync({json.dumps(str(ASSIGN_AND_START))})) {{
+  process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{available:false}}));
+}} else {{
+  const createAssignAndStart=require({json.dumps(str(ASSIGN_AND_START))});
+  const calls=[];
+  let release;
+  const claimResult=new Promise(resolve=>{{release=resolve;}});
+  const flow=createAssignAndStart({{
+    available:()=>true,
+    claim:item=>{{calls.push('claim:'+item.number);return claimResult;}},
+    start:item=>{{calls.push('start:'+item.number);return 'started';}},
+    recover:item=>calls.push('recover:'+item.number),
+    announce:message=>calls.push('announce:'+message),
+  }});
+  const issue={{repository:'stackchain/dashboard',number:411}};
+  const first=flow.run(issue);
+  const second=flow.run(issue);
+  release({{...issue,assignees:['timmy']}});
+  Promise.all([first,second]).then(results=>process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{available:true,calls,results,same:first===second}})));
+}}
+"""
+
+    assert run_node(script) == {
+        "available": True,
+        "calls": [
+            "claim:411",
+            "start:411",
+            "announce:Assigned, added to Today, and ready to work.",
+        ],
+        "results": ["started", "started"],
+        "same": True,
+    }
+
+
+def test_full_today_blocks_before_assignment_and_explains_recovery():
+    script = f"""
+const createAssignAndStart=require({json.dumps(str(ASSIGN_AND_START))});
+const calls=[];
+const flow=createAssignAndStart({{
+  available:()=>false,
+  claim:()=>{{calls.push('claim');return Promise.resolve({{}});}},
+  start:()=>calls.push('start'),
+  recover:()=>calls.push('recover'),
+  announce:message=>calls.push('announce:'+message),
+}});
+flow.run({{repository:'stackchain/dashboard',number:411}}).then(result=>
+  process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{result,calls}}))
+);
+"""
+
+    assert run_node(script) == {
+        "result": "full",
+        "calls": ["announce:Today is full—remove an item before assigning this issue."],
+    }
+
+
+def test_confirmed_assignment_recovers_in_issue_detail_when_today_start_fails():
+    script = f"""
+const createAssignAndStart=require({json.dumps(str(ASSIGN_AND_START))});
+const calls=[];
+const issue={{repository:'stackchain/dashboard',number:411,assignees:['timmy']}};
+const flow=createAssignAndStart({{
+  available:()=>true,
+  claim:()=>Promise.resolve(issue),
+  start:()=> 'sync-unavailable',
+  recover:item=>calls.push('recover:'+item.number),
+  announce:message=>calls.push('announce:'+message),
+}});
+flow.run(issue).then(result=>process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{result,calls}})));
+"""
+
+    assert run_node(script) == {
+        "result": "recovery",
+        "calls": [
+            "announce:Assigned to you, but Today could not start. The issue is open so you can recover.",
+            "recover:411",
+        ],
+    }
+
+
+def test_failed_assignment_does_not_start_today_and_can_be_retried():
+    script = f"""
+const createAssignAndStart=require({json.dumps(str(ASSIGN_AND_START))});
+const calls=[];let attempt=0;
+const issue={{repository:'stackchain/dashboard',number:411}};
+const flow=createAssignAndStart({{
+  available:()=>true,
+  claim:()=>{{attempt+=1;calls.push('claim:'+attempt);return attempt===1 ? Promise.reject(new Error('conflict')) : Promise.resolve(issue);}},
+  start:()=>{{calls.push('start');return 'started';}},
+  recover:()=>calls.push('recover'),
+  announce:message=>calls.push('announce:'+message),
+}});
+flow.run(issue).catch(error=>{{
+  calls.push('error:'+error.message);
+  return flow.run(issue);
+}}).then(result=>process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({{result,calls}})));
+"""
+
+    assert run_node(script) == {
+        "result": "started",
+        "calls": [
+            "claim:1",
+            "error:conflict",
+            "claim:2",
+            "start",
+            "announce:Assigned, added to Today, and ready to work.",
+        ],
+    }
+
+
+def test_find_work_renders_phone_safe_assign_and_start_and_wires_offline_shell():
+    dashboard = DASHBOARD.read_text()
+    css = CSS.read_text()
+    worker = WORKER.read_text()
+
+    assert "data-claim-start-index" in dashboard
+    assert ">Assign &amp; start</button>" in dashboard
+    assert "const assignAndStart = createAssignAndStart({" in dashboard
+    assert "assignAndStart.run(item)" in dashboard
+    assert "createAndStart.available" in dashboard
+    assert "createAndStart.complete" in dashboard
+    assert ".find-work-claim-actions" in css
+    assert "grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))" in css
+    assert "BASE + 'static/assign-and-start.js'" in worker
diff --git a/tests/test_service_worker.py b/tests/test_service_worker.py
index 20540e4..8087d94 100644
--- a/tests/test_service_worker.py
+++ b/tests/test_service_worker.py
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ def test_install_precaches_complete_subpath_scoped_app_shell():
         "/dashboard/static/issue-sheet.js",
         "/dashboard/static/create-issue-sheet.js",
         "/dashboard/static/create-and-start.js",
+        "/dashboard/static/assign-and-start.js",
         "/dashboard/static/pull-sheet.js",
         "/dashboard/static/review-sheet.js",
         "/dashboard/static/work-route.js",