CLI shows 'Rate limit reached' despite very low usage — VS Code extension works fine

Bug Description

The CLI consistently returns API Error: Rate limit reached on every message (even a simple "hi"), while the VS Code extension works perfectly on the same account. This has been happening for over a week with no resolution.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open terminal and run claude
2. Send any message (e.g., "hi")
3. Immediately get: API Error: Rate limit reached
4. Open VS Code with Claude Code extension — works fine on the same account

Environment

• Claude Code version: 2.1.77
• OS: macOS 15.3 (Darwin 24.3.0, Apple Silicon)
• Shell: zsh
• Auth: Claude.ai OAuth (no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY set, no custom API base URL)

What I've Tried

• /logout and re-authenticated — still rate limited
• rm ~/.claude.json to clear cached tokens — still rate limited
• Verified no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY or ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL env vars are set
• Verified env | grep -i anthropic returns nothing
• Config looks normal (checked via /config)
• Usage is very low — nowhere near the 5-hour or weekly limits

Expected Behavior

CLI should work the same as the VS Code extension since both use the same account and subscription.

Actual Behavior

❯ hi
  ⎿  API Error: Rate limit reached

This happens on every single message, immediately, for over a week straight.

Additional Context

• The VS Code extension sets CLAUDE_CODE_SSE_PORT but no other Claude/Anthropic env vars are present
• No proxy or custom configuration
• This feels like a server-side rate limit tracking issue since all client-side fixes have been exhausted