diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
index 4f51f97..06d5d60 100644
--- a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
+++ b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "name": "cuey",
       "source": "./plugins/cuey",
       "description": "Cuey is an agentic financial intelligence system that analyzes prompts and Excel workbooks, improves decision accuracy through cross-checking and fact-checking, and delivers evidence-backed recommendations.",
-      "version": "0.4.27",
+      "version": "0.4.28",
       "author": {
         "name": "TensorBlock"
       },
diff --git a/plugins/cuey/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/plugins/cuey/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index e03838d..c777a92 100644
--- a/plugins/cuey/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/plugins/cuey/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "cuey",
-  "version": "0.4.27",
+  "version": "0.4.28",
   "description": "Cuey is an agentic financial intelligence system that analyzes prompts and Excel workbooks, improves decision accuracy through cross-checking and fact-checking, and delivers evidence-backed recommendations.",
   "author": {
     "name": "TensorBlock",
diff --git a/plugins/cuey/skills/cuey/SKILL.md b/plugins/cuey/skills/cuey/SKILL.md
index 3dfdfee..0b25d1a 100644
--- a/plugins/cuey/skills/cuey/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/cuey/skills/cuey/SKILL.md
@@ -17,7 +17,15 @@ Before using any tool, classify the invocation:
 
 ## Ask Cuey
 
-Call the local MCP tool `cuey:start_cuey`, then poll `cuey:get_cuey_result` until Cuey returns the final result. Do not rely on a single long-running `cuey:ask_cuey` call for normal `/cuey` requests; long Cuey fanout and synthesis jobs can exceed Claude's single tool-call timeout. If the current request has no attachments, do not use bash, recall memory, search, or answer directly before starting Cuey. If the current request has attachments, collect only the attachment feature matrix described below, then call `cuey:start_cuey` immediately.
+Before inspecting attachments, running commands, reading files, recalling memory, searching, or doing any other work, call `cuey:claim_cuey_request` with the exact original `$ARGUMENTS` as `question`.
+
+- If it returns `status: "claimed"`, retain the returned `requestId`. Only then may you collect the attachment feature matrix described below. Pass that exact `requestId` unchanged to `cuey:start_cuey`.
+- If it returns `status: "handoff"` with a `requestId`, another Cuey execution already owns the request. Retain that `requestId`, do not inspect attachments, do not call `cuey:start_cuey`, and immediately poll `cuey:get_cuey_result` with that `requestId` until Cuey returns the final result.
+- If it returns `status: "handoff"` without a `requestId`, return one short handoff message in the user's language and stop. Do not inspect attachments or call another Cuey tool.
+- If it returns `status: "not_required"`, this `/cuey` invocation did not originate from the Cuey desktop overlay. Continue normally without a `requestId`.
+- If `cuey:claim_cuey_request` is unavailable, continue normally. Do not treat an unavailable claim tool as a Cuey failure.
+
+After a `claimed`, `not_required`, or unavailable claim step, call the local MCP tool `cuey:start_cuey`, then poll `cuey:get_cuey_result` until Cuey returns the final result. Do not rely on a single long-running `cuey:ask_cuey` call for normal `/cuey` requests; long Cuey fanout and synthesis jobs can exceed Claude's single tool-call timeout. If the current request has no attachments, do not use bash, recall memory, search, or answer directly before starting Cuey. If the current request has attachments, collect only the attachment feature matrix described below, then call `cuey:start_cuey` immediately.
 
 An `@filename.ext` reference in `$ARGUMENTS` may identify a file in the Cuey
 desktop file workspace. Pass every such reference to Cuey unchanged.
@@ -33,6 +41,7 @@ Send this payload to `cuey:start_cuey`:
 
 ```json
 {
+  "requestId": "exact requestId returned by cuey:claim_cuey_request, when present",
   "mode": "ask | compare | verify | summarize",
   "question": "$ARGUMENTS",
   "context": "only relevant prior conversation context; do not include extracted attachment contents",