diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
index 435d290..9b81de3 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
@@ -393,31 +393,17 @@ async function advanceJob(job: Job): Promise<Job | null> {
       });
       if (partialGrantReserved <= 0 && (job.absorbedSats ?? 0) > 0) {
         // Pool drained between advisory decide() and payment confirmation.
-        // We cannot execute at the discounted terms — that would operate at a loss
-        // without pool backing. Mark the job failed with refund pending so the user
-        // can resubmit at full price.
-        logger.warn("partial grant pool drained at payment — failing job, refund pending", {
+        // Revert to normal paid flow: user already paid their invoice (chargeSats),
+        // which is less than full price. We proceed with zero subsidy — user will be
+        // charged their paid amount and work executes. Any normal refund (actual < paid)
+        // still applies through the standard refund path.
+        // partialGrantReserved = 0 means recordGrant will record 0 absorbed, so no
+        // pool accounting error occurs.
+        logger.warn("partial grant pool drained at payment — proceeding with zero subsidy (paid flow)", {
           jobId: job.id,
           pubkey: job.nostrPubkey.slice(0, 8),
           requestedAbsorb: job.absorbedSats,
-          workAmountSats: job.workAmountSats,
         });
-        await db
-          .update(jobs)
-          .set({
-            state: "failed",
-            errorMessage: "Generosity pool exhausted — your payment will be refunded. Please retry at full price.",
-            refundAmountSats: job.workAmountSats ?? 0,
-            refundState: "pending",
-            updatedAt: new Date(),
-          })
-          .where(eq(jobs.id, job.id));
-        eventBus.publish({
-          type: "job:failed",
-          jobId: job.id,
-          reason: "Generosity pool exhausted — your payment will be refunded.",
-        });
-        return getJobById(job.id);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
index ddbc57e..e7e9ffd 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
@@ -329,12 +329,13 @@ router.post("/sessions/:id/request", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     let errorMessage: string | null = null;
 
     // ── Pre-gate: free-tier decision on ESTIMATED cost before executing work ──
-    // Estimate cost so we can commit a budget reservation before calling the LLM,
-    // preventing a scenario where the pool is drained after we've already spent tokens.
+    // Estimate total request cost (work portion) pre-execution to determine subsidy.
+    // Final accounting uses eval+work actual cost (fullDebitSats). The pool reservation
+    // is sized to the work estimate; if pool covers fullDebitSats, debitedSats = 0.
+    // If pool covers only part of fullDebitSats, the remainder debits the session.
     let ftDecision: import("../lib/free-tier.js").FreeTierDecision | null = null;
     if (evalResult.accepted && session.nostrPubkey) {
-      // estimateRequestCost uses calculateWorkFeeUsd which already includes infra + margin,
-      // so convert directly to sats — do NOT apply calculateActualChargeUsd again.
+      // estimateRequestCost includes infra + margin. Convert to sats for decide().
       const { estimatedCostUsd } = pricingService.estimateRequestCost(requestText, agentService.workModel);
       const estimatedSats = usdToSats(estimatedCostUsd, btcPriceUsd);
       ftDecision = await freeTierService.decide(session.nostrPubkey, estimatedSats);