diff --git a/src/app/api/ai/test/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/ai/test/__tests__/route.test.ts
index a902128bc..840c64368 100644
--- a/src/app/api/ai/test/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/ai/test/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: () => 200_000,
+  resolveDailyCapFor: () => 200_000,
   resolveCostOwner: () => "operator" as const,
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/chat/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/chat/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 7d832c732..913b29da0 100644
--- a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/chat/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/chat/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 600 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 100000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 100000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/provider-runner", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 75aa91905..4975c6f65 100644
--- a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 1 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/documents/extract", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/index/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/index/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 544005665..671c68bd5 100644
--- a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/index/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/index/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 1 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/modules/gate", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/suggest/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/suggest/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 40f2e9603..30bf21b6d 100644
--- a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/suggest/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/suggest/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 1 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/modules/gate", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/summary/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/summary/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 2bdd26141..a1926710d 100644
--- a/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/summary/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/documents/inbound/[id]/summary/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 1 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/modules/gate", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-cancelled-turn.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-cancelled-turn.test.ts
index 9640c3871..7849a4827 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-cancelled-turn.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-cancelled-turn.test.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-fence-guard.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-fence-guard.test.ts
index 61a0dd543..b3476a8af 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-fence-guard.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-fence-guard.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(async () => ({ allowed: true, reserved: 1500 })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/refusal", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-activation.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-activation.test.ts
index 078fb58ac..3923f76b3 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-activation.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-activation.test.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-ledger.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-ledger.test.ts
index 4eb694265..14adc66aa 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-ledger.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard-ledger.test.ts
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard.test.ts
index d2bee8745..2803076b7 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-guard.test.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-list-query.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-list-query.test.ts
index 96a2ef5cd..4fc5d3488 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-list-query.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-list-query.test.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/refusal", () => ({ detectRefusal: vi.fn() }));
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-module-gate.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-module-gate.test.ts
index fd0add566..07e52d0c9 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-module-gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-module-gate.test.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/refusal", () => ({ detectRefusal: vi.fn() }));
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-snapshot-once.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-snapshot-once.test.ts
index 7ba30cf4b..bcb917964 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-snapshot-once.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-snapshot-once.test.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(async () => ({ allowed: true, reserved: 1500 })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/refusal", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-tool-mode.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-tool-mode.test.ts
index d88dab268..f0b475076 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-tool-mode.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-tool-mode.test.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-workout-scope.test.ts b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-workout-scope.test.ts
index 16d9b72b2..37567bbef 100644
--- a/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-workout-scope.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/insights/chat/__tests__/route-workout-scope.test.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(async () => ({ allowed: true, reserved: 1500 })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 2_000_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/refusal", () => ({
diff --git a/src/app/api/labs/ocr/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/labs/ocr/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
index c926aecc0..d5b1dca60 100644
--- a/src/app/api/labs/ocr/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/labs/ocr/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/labs/ocr-extract", async () => {
diff --git a/src/app/api/medications/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/medications/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
index 3c43ec73b..b0d454ef5 100644
--- a/src/app/api/medications/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/medications/extract/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   // returns a distinctive figure so an accidental default-cap regression is
   // visible in the assertion rather than silently passing.
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1_234_567),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1_234_567),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "user" as const),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/budget.test.ts b/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/budget.test.ts
index 5b8f012c7..62bb3ad76 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/budget.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/budget.test.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ import {
   buildDateKey,
   OPERATOR_COST_CAP,
   USER_PLAN_CAP,
+  JOB_SURFACE_SHARE,
   resolveCostOwner,
   resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "../budget";
 
 vi.mock("@/lib/db", () => ({
@@ -198,6 +200,40 @@ describe("reserveBudget cap (F1 — user-plan path not locked out)", () => {
  * `totalAfter: 513539` against the 200 k operator ceiling. Comparing the total
  * is the defect; the operator ceiling may only see operator-funded tokens.
  */
+/**
+ * v1.38.19 (Wave E) — background generation gets a bounded slice of the day.
+ *
+ * Production evidence (2026-09-11): 150–330 ledger rows a day on the
+ * operator's account, 172 `insights.metric` generations by 06:42Z — the
+ * automatic jobs had spent the day's ceiling before he opened the chat. A
+ * background surface may reserve at most half of the interactive ceiling.
+ */
+describe("resolveDailyCapFor (Wave E — the job share)", () => {
+  it("gives a background surface half the operator ceiling", () => {
+    expect(resolveDailyCapFor("job", [{ providerType: "admin-openai" }])).toBe(
+      OPERATOR_COST_CAP * JOB_SURFACE_SHARE,
+    );
+    expect(resolveDailyCapFor("job", [{ providerType: "admin-openai" }])).toBe(
+      100_000,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("leaves the interactive surfaces the whole ceiling", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveDailyCapFor("coach", [{ providerType: "admin-openai" }]),
+    ).toBe(OPERATOR_COST_CAP);
+    expect(resolveDailyCapFor("coach", [{ providerType: "codex" }])).toBe(
+      USER_PLAN_CAP,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("shares the user-plan ceiling the same way", () => {
+    expect(resolveDailyCapFor("job", [{ providerType: "codex" }])).toBe(
+      USER_PLAN_CAP * JOB_SURFACE_SHARE,
+    );
+  });
+});
+
 describe("reserveBudget cap by cost owner (Wave E)", () => {
   let prismaMock: {
     $queryRaw: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/self-context-questions-consent.test.ts b/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/self-context-questions-consent.test.ts
index 9276adb5a..f3910f854 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/self-context-questions-consent.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ai/coach/__tests__/self-context-questions-consent.test.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ const budgetMocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => budgetMocks);
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/coach/budget.ts b/src/lib/ai/coach/budget.ts
index ab4c3f506..09e80ab59 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/coach/budget.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ai/coach/budget.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,34 @@ export function resolveDailyCap(
     : USER_PLAN_CAP;
 }
 
+/**
+ * v1.38.19 (Wave E) — the share of a day's ceiling that BACKGROUND generation
+ * may reserve, all job surfaces together.
+ *
+ * Production evidence (2026-09-11): the operator's account wrote 150–330
+ * ledger rows a day, 172 of them `insights.metric` generations before 06:42Z.
+ * The automatic work had eaten the day before he opened the chat. Half the
+ * ceiling keeps the interactive surfaces a day of their own no matter how much
+ * background generation the instance schedules.
+ */
+export const JOB_SURFACE_SHARE = 0.5;
+
+/**
+ * v1.38.19 (Wave E) — the daily ceiling for one SURFACE on a chain. `"coach"`
+ * (every interactive surface: the chat, the extraction routes, the document
+ * routes, the connection probe) gets the whole ceiling; `"job"` (the automatic
+ * generators) gets `JOB_SURFACE_SHARE` of it. The cost owner is unchanged —
+ * this only rations how much of the owner's ceiling a background surface may
+ * claim.
+ */
+export function resolveDailyCapFor(
+  surface: "coach" | "job",
+  chain: ReadonlyArray<{ providerType: ProviderChainType }>,
+): number {
+  const cap = resolveDailyCap(chain);
+  return surface === "job" ? Math.floor(cap * JOB_SURFACE_SHARE) : cap;
+}
+
 /**
  * v1.37.19 (A7-2) — does this provider spend the OPERATOR's money?
  * `admin-openai` (the server's own API key) and `admin-codex` (the
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/auto-stage-labs.test.ts b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/auto-stage-labs.test.ts
index aca4ac148..c4fe7bca3 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/auto-stage-labs.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/auto-stage-labs.test.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   buildDateKey: vi.fn(() => "2026-07-16"),
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 100_000),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/ai-budgets", () => ({
   AI_BUDGETS: { ocrExtractText: { temperature: 0, maxTokens: 2000 } },
@@ -99,6 +100,8 @@ beforeEach(() => {
     allowed: true,
     reserved: 10,
     totalAfter: 10,
+    owner: "operator",
+    operatorAfter: 10,
   } as Awaited<ReturnType<typeof reserveBudget>>);
   mockExtract.mockResolvedValue({
     reportDate: "2026-07-10",
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/fenced-chat-pipeline.test.ts b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/fenced-chat-pipeline.test.ts
index f2d3e7abb..95dda88f1 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/fenced-chat-pipeline.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/fenced-chat-pipeline.test.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ allowed: true, reserved: 600 }),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 100000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 100000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/provider-runner", () => ({
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-document.test.ts b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-document.test.ts
index 124e72c5e..c6de6c93b 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-document.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-document.test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/ai-budgets", () => ({
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-outcome-record.test.ts b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-outcome-record.test.ts
index 955005b1d..2b3844697 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-outcome-record.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/__tests__/index-outcome-record.test.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/ai-budgets", () => ({
diff --git a/src/lib/documents/auto-stage-labs.ts b/src/lib/documents/auto-stage-labs.ts
index 2182991b2..2188d4795 100644
--- a/src/lib/documents/auto-stage-labs.ts
+++ b/src/lib/documents/auto-stage-labs.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
   buildDateKey,
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { loadDocumentChatText } from "@/lib/documents/content-index";
 import { resolveIndexProvider } from "@/lib/documents/index-document";
@@ -276,13 +277,17 @@ export async function maybeAutoStageLabFacts(
   }
 
   // A text-structuring pass, not a vision call — reserve the proportionate
-  // ceiling under the same daily cap the auto-index resolved.
+  // ceiling under the cost owner the auto-index resolved.
+  // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — auto-staging runs off the upload, with no one waiting
+  // on it: a background surface, so half the day's ceiling.
   const dateKey = buildDateKey();
   const reservation = await reserveBudget(
     userId,
     AI_BUDGETS.ocrExtractText.maxTokens,
     dateKey,
-    provider.dailyCap,
+    resolveDailyCapFor("job", [
+      { providerType: provider.pick.entry.providerType },
+    ]),
     provider.costOwner,
   );
   if (!reservation.allowed) return { staged: false, reason: "budget" };
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/status-provider-budget.test.ts b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/status-provider-budget.test.ts
index 0593bdf7e..fa3568716 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/__tests__/status-provider-budget.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/__tests__/status-provider-budget.test.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,33 @@ describe("runStatusCompletion — ledger accounting", () => {
     expect(ledgerTotal).toBe(1234);
   });
 
+  it("refuses a background generation at the job share while the chat still runs", async () => {
+    // Wave E — the automatic status/reference generators may spend at most
+    // half the operator ceiling, so the interactive chat still has a day left
+    // when the jobs have had theirs. One token past the job share:
+    ledgerTotal = 100_001;
+    ledgerOperator = 100_001;
+    mockProviderReply(500);
+
+    const result = await runStatusCompletion(completionArgs());
+
+    expect(runRawCompletionWithFallback).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("error");
+
+    // The same spend, reserved by the interactive coach ceiling, is admitted.
+    const { reserveBudget, resolveDailyCap, resolveCostOwner } =
+      await import("@/lib/ai/coach/budget");
+    const chatChain = [{ providerType: "admin-openai" as const }];
+    const chat = await reserveBudget(
+      "u1",
+      3_000,
+      "2026-09-11",
+      resolveDailyCap(chatChain),
+      resolveCostOwner(chatChain),
+    );
+    expect(chat.allowed).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("charges the reservation when the provider reports no token count", async () => {
     mockProviderReply(null);
 
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts b/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
index a98749ed1..fc248e038 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/briefing-provider.ts
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
  *
  * This is the same accounting the status tier uses, not a second mechanism:
  * `reserveBudget` (one atomic upsert-increment, no read-then-write window) +
- * `resolveDailyCap(chain)` for the cost owner + `reconcileSpend` against the
+ * `resolveDailyCapFor("job", chain)` for the cost owner + `reconcileSpend` against the
  * provider's reported count. Every provider call on the briefing path routes
  * through here, so a retry is reserved and charged like any other call — a
  * user at the ceiling does not get a free correction pass.
  *
- * The cap follows the COST OWNER, not the surface. `resolveDailyCap` charges
+ * The cap follows the COST OWNER. `resolveDailyCapFor` charges
  * the operator ceiling only when the chain's primary is the operator's own
  * credential (`admin-openai` / `admin-codex`); a self-hoster on their own key,
  * their own ChatGPT plan, or a local model is measured against the generous
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ import {
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { singleUserTurn } from "@/lib/ai/types";
 import { annotate } from "@/lib/logging/context";
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ export async function runBriefingCompletion(
     args.userId,
     estimatedTokens,
     dateKey,
-    resolveDailyCap(args.chain),
+    // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+    resolveDailyCapFor("job", args.chain),
     resolveCostOwner(args.chain),
   );
   if (!reservation.allowed) {
diff --git a/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts b/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
index 9c65481e3..109f7145d 100644
--- a/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
+++ b/src/lib/insights/status-provider.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { AI_BUDGETS, REFERENCE_AI_SEED } from "@/lib/ai/ai-budgets";
 import { singleUserTurn } from "@/lib/ai/types";
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ export async function runStatusCompletion(
   // prompt we are about to send — and reconcile against the provider's reported
   // count afterwards, refunding in full when nothing was generated.
   //
-  // The cap follows the COST OWNER, not the surface: `resolveDailyCap` charges
+  // The cap follows the COST OWNER: `resolveDailyCapFor` charges
   // the operator ceiling only when the chain's primary is the operator's own
   // credential (`admin-openai` / `admin-codex`). A self-hoster on their own key
   // or a local model is measured against the generous user-plan ceiling, so
@@ -223,7 +223,8 @@ export async function runStatusCompletion(
     userId,
     estimatedTokens,
     dateKey,
-    resolveDailyCap(chain),
+    // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+    resolveDailyCapFor("job", chain),
     resolveCostOwner(chain),
   );
   if (!reservation.allowed) {
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/async-state-contract.test.ts b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/async-state-contract.test.ts
index 0392ca979..5f70f8a95 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/async-state-contract.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/async-state-contract.test.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/ai-budgets", () => ({
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/coach-nudge-ai-consent.test.ts b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/coach-nudge-ai-consent.test.ts
index 35aff0813..8923120a3 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/coach-nudge-ai-consent.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/coach-nudge-ai-consent.test.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ const budgetMocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   })),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn(async () => {}),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 200_000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => budgetMocks);
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-content-index-backfill.test.ts b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-content-index-backfill.test.ts
index 36a14cd9e..e048cd61f 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-content-index-backfill.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-content-index-backfill.test.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/jobs/boss-instance", () => ({ getGlobalBoss: vi.fn() }));
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-summary.test.ts b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-summary.test.ts
index af419b6c7..9a4c84a3f 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-summary.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/document-summary.test.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: vi.fn(),
   reconcileSpend: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   resolveDailyCap: vi.fn(() => 1000),
+  resolveDailyCapFor: vi.fn(() => 1000),
   resolveCostOwner: vi.fn(() => "operator" as const),
 }));
 vi.mock("@/lib/ai/ai-budgets", () => ({
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/reaction-line-degradation.test.ts b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/reaction-line-degradation.test.ts
index 9883df194..8e2ff0ac5 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/reaction-line-degradation.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/__tests__/reaction-line-degradation.test.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/ai/coach/budget", () => ({
   reserveBudget: (...a: unknown[]) => reserveBudget(...a),
   reconcileSpend: (...a: unknown[]) => reconcileSpend(...a),
   resolveDailyCap: () => 200_000,
+  resolveDailyCapFor: () => 200_000,
   resolveCostOwner: () => "operator" as const,
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/coach-nudge-ai.ts b/src/lib/jobs/coach-nudge-ai.ts
index b4127c5d5..d9d8b7b1e 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/coach-nudge-ai.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/coach-nudge-ai.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import {
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { AI_BUDGETS } from "@/lib/ai/ai-budgets";
 import { singleUserTurn } from "@/lib/ai/types";
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ export const composeNudgeWithAI: ComposeNudgeWithAI = async (params) => {
 
     const budget = AI_BUDGETS.coachNudge;
     const maxTokens = budget.maxTokens ?? 160;
-    const dailyCap = resolveDailyCap(chain);
+    // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+    const dailyCap = resolveDailyCapFor("job", chain);
     const dateKey = buildDateKey();
 
     // Per-user budget gate (atomic reserve; refunds itself on refusal).
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/document-content-index-backfill.ts b/src/lib/jobs/document-content-index-backfill.ts
index dc6906a93..bdec599f1 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/document-content-index-backfill.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/document-content-index-backfill.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ import {
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/db";
 import {
@@ -200,7 +200,10 @@ export async function runContentIndexBackfillForUser(
   // leaves every PDF out of "index all documents".
   const candidateMimes = [...IMAGE_MIMES, "application/pdf"];
 
-  const dailyCap = resolveDailyCap([{ providerType: pick.entry.providerType }]);
+  // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+  const dailyCap = resolveDailyCapFor("job", [
+    { providerType: pick.entry.providerType },
+  ]);
   let indexed = 0;
   let skipped = 0;
   let failed = stale.failed;
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/document-summary.ts b/src/lib/jobs/document-summary.ts
index 86308b5c9..f4c1307d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/document-summary.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/document-summary.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import {
   reconcileSpend,
   reserveBudget,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import {
   loadOwnedDocument,
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ export async function runDocumentSummaryJob(
     userId,
     AI_BUDGETS.documentSummary.maxTokens,
     dateKey,
-    resolveDailyCap([{ providerType: pick.entry.providerType }]),
+    // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+    resolveDailyCapFor("job", [{ providerType: pick.entry.providerType }]),
     resolveCostOwner([{ providerType: pick.entry.providerType }]),
   );
   // Budget exhausted → skip (no local fallback for a summary).
diff --git a/src/lib/jobs/reaction-line.ts b/src/lib/jobs/reaction-line.ts
index a3678576c..2d49c25e2 100644
--- a/src/lib/jobs/reaction-line.ts
+++ b/src/lib/jobs/reaction-line.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import {
   buildDateKey,
   reconcileSpend,
   resolveCostOwner,
-  resolveDailyCap,
+  resolveDailyCapFor,
   type BudgetCostOwner,
 } from "@/lib/ai/coach/budget";
 import { AI_BUDGETS } from "@/lib/ai/ai-budgets";
@@ -553,7 +553,8 @@ export async function runReactionLine(
         job.userId,
         revision,
         buildDateKey(),
-        resolveDailyCap(chain),
+        // v1.38.19 (Wave E) — a background surface: half the day's ceiling.
+        resolveDailyCapFor("job", chain),
         resolveCostOwner(chain),
       );
     } catch (err) {