[BUG] Claude Code in VS Code consumes ~2x more weekly limit after May 6, 2026 changes

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

After May 6, 2026, one full 5-hour session using Claude Code in VS Code
consumes approximately 25% of the weekly limit.

Previously (April 2026, different account, same usage patterns), the same
work consumed approximately 12% of the weekly limit — meaning ~8 full
sessions were available per week. Now only 4 sessions are available per week.

Support confirmed that Claude Code should count at half the rate toward
the 5-hour limit, but the weekly limit consumption doubled instead of staying
the same or decreasing.

What Should Happen?

A full 5-hour session of Claude Code (simple PHP/HTML website development)
should consume approximately 12% of the weekly limit, allowing ~8 full
sessions per week on a Pro plan — consistent with pre-May 2026 behavior.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

1. Subscribe to Claude Pro plan
2. Install Claude Code extension in VS Code (macOS)
3. Use Claude Code for a full 5-hour session on simple PHP/HTML tasks
4. Check weekly usage percentage after the session ends
5. Observe: ~25% of weekly limit consumed per session

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.140

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

<img width="427" height="389" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e5ff5329-72cf-43fb-b935-22f190ef9a72" />

• Using Claude Code as VS Code extension, not standalone CLI
• Tasks: simple PHP/HTML website development (unchanged from April)
• Support ticket raised but unresolved
• Effort: High, Thinking: enabled in extension settings at time of testing
• Account switched from previous account (Apple Sign-In) in May 2026
• Screenshot: /usage output — first 5-hour session of the week.

Session: 61% used = 13% of weekly limit consumed.
Projected full session cost: ~21% of weekly limit.