diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 6f7948e..7dbb59b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ dependencies = [
     # transitively via howlongtobeatpy and websockets was undeclared — both
     # are declared here so a clean install imports the package.
     "aiohttp==3.14.5",
-    "websockets==17.2",
+    "websockets==17.3",
     # The earner registry (gaming budget terms); stdlib-only, so the root
     # daemon imports it from the desktop user's site-packages.
-    "earned-time @ git+https://github.com/kuhyx/utils@earned-time-v0.16.0#subdirectory=earned_time",
+    "earned-time @ git+https://github.com/kuhyx/utils@earned-time-v0.17.0#subdirectory=earned_time",
     # The shared /proc game scan and the signed leisure facts (shadow budget,
     # contract C4); stdlib-only, imported by root from the user site like
     # earned-time.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 1206f42..409393b 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 aiohttp==3.14.5
 bandit==1.9.4
 codespell==2.4.3
-coverage==7.16.2
-earned-time @ git+https://github.com/kuhyx/utils@earned-time-v0.16.0#subdirectory=earned_time
+coverage==7.17.0
+earned-time @ git+https://github.com/kuhyx/utils@earned-time-v0.17.0#subdirectory=earned_time
 howlongtobeatpy==1.0.24
 leisure-watch @ git+https://github.com/kuhyx/leisure-watch@leisure-watch-v0.2.1
 mcp==2.3.0
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@ pytest-sugar==1.1.1
 pytest-timeout==2.4.0
 pytest-xdist==3.8.0
 requests==2.34.2
-ruff==0.17.1
+ruff==0.17.2
 types-requests==2.33.0.20261006
-websockets==17.2
+websockets==17.3
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_leetcode_bonus.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_leetcode_bonus.py
index e65d1b3..af5c8e6 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_leetcode_bonus.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_leetcode_bonus.py
@@ -20,10 +20,9 @@ rather than a permission problem -- this daemon runs as root, so it already has
 strictly more access than the endpoint does. Both carry the same staleness (see
 below); the fallback is not a fresher source.
 
-**Known staleness, accepted.** leetcode-guard only writes credits from its lock
-window's poll loop, so a *voluntary extra* solve made after the day is settled
-never reaches the ledger and earns nothing. The bonus tracks what the day's
-gate run recorded.
+**Staleness.** leetcode-guard's one-minute harvester credits a solve within
+about a minute, even with no lock window up. A day paid ahead from banked
+credits counts like a solve (``earned_time`` >= 0.17.0, kuhy 2026-10-23).
 
 Reading and verifying the ledger itself lives in
 :mod:`steam_backlog_enforcer._leetcode_ledger`; this module owns the two
@@ -60,7 +59,8 @@ def _fetch_leetcode_today(url: str) -> bool:
         url: The status endpoint, e.g. ``http://127.0.0.1:8771/api/status``.
 
     Returns:
-        Whether an accepted submission is recorded for today.
+        Whether an accepted submission is recorded for today, or today was
+        paid from banked credits.
 
     Raises:
         OSError: The endpoint could not be reached.
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ def _fetch_leetcode_today(url: str) -> bool:
         # The server answered, but said it could not look. That is not a "no".
         msg = f"leetcode-guard could not check: {block.get('reason', 'no reason')}"
         raise ValueError(msg)
-    return bool(block["solved_today"])
+    # A day paid ahead from banked credits earns the hour like a solve
+    # (leetcode-guard >= 2026-10-23); an older server has no such field.
+    return bool(block["solved_today"]) or bool(block.get("settled_by_credit"))
 
 
 def leetcode_solved_today(config: Config) -> bool | None:
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_leetcode_bonus.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_leetcode_bonus.py
index 8a33bdf..c618dac 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_leetcode_bonus.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_leetcode_bonus.py
@@ -140,3 +140,24 @@ class TestFetchLeetcodeToday:
                 )
                 is True
             )
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("block", "expected"),
+        [
+            ({"solved_today": False, "settled_by_credit": True}, True),
+            ({"solved_today": False, "settled_by_credit": False}, False),
+            # A leetcode-guard older than the field: the solve alone decides.
+            ({"solved_today": False}, False),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_a_day_paid_from_banked_credit_counts(
+        self, block: dict[str, bool], *, expected: bool
+    ) -> None:
+        """Working ahead earns the hour (kuhy, 2026-10-23)."""
+        payload = json.dumps({"leetcode": {"checked": True, **block}}).encode()
+        with patch(f"{_API}.http.client.HTTPConnection") as conn:
+            resp = conn.return_value.getresponse.return_value
+            resp.status = 200
+            resp.read.return_value = payload
+            url = "http://127.0.0.1:8771/api/status"
+            assert _leetcode_bonus._fetch_leetcode_today(url) is expected