diff --git a/.cursor/rules/tab-badges.mdc b/.cursor/rules/tab-badges.mdc
index b9520fd..a7c77e7 100644
--- a/.cursor/rules/tab-badges.mdc
+++ b/.cursor/rules/tab-badges.mdc
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ alwaysApply: false
 
 # Tab badges (Cases / Tasks / Treatment)
 
-- **Split counts (Option B):** Lab Cases = sent + clinic comments + important; Lab Tasks = completions + lab comments; Clinic Treatment = visible lab comments + completions.
+- **Split counts (Option B):** Lab Cases = sent + clinic comments + important; Lab Tasks = completions + lab comments + assignments (assignee-only); Clinic Treatment = visible lab comments + completions.
 - **API:** `GET /notifications/tab-counts`; **Cases + Treatment** use per-case read + `hasUnread` on list cards; Tasks marks read on tab visit. Treatment rail uses `TreatmentLabCasesPanel` + `LabCaseTrackerCard` + activity feed.
 - **Pattern:** `useTabBadgeCounts` + `notifyTabBadgesChanged()` — same shape as `usePendingConnectionsCount`.
 - **Live:** inbox Socket.IO `notification.created` → `notifyTabBadgesChanged()` (and org pending event when relevant). **Mounted** Cases/Tasks/Treatment/Orgs pages soft-refetch lists; unmounted tabs do not. Sidebar badge counts always refetch (hook is always mounted).
diff --git a/.cursor/skills/notifications-inbox/SKILL.md b/.cursor/skills/notifications-inbox/SKILL.md
index c51ec99..8330f6c 100644
--- a/.cursor/skills/notifications-inbox/SKILL.md
+++ b/.cursor/skills/notifications-inbox/SKILL.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Full tab-badge map: `.cursor/skills/tab-badges/SKILL.md`.
 
 ## Emit sites (parallel to LabCaseActivity)
 
-CASE_SENT, CLINIC_COMMENT, LAB_COMMENT (+ LAB_COMMENT_CLINIC), CASE_IMPORTANT, TASK_COMPLETED, TASK_ASSIGNED, CONNECTION_REQUEST, STAFF_INVITE — see service call sites.
+CASE_SENT, CLINIC_COMMENT, LAB_COMMENT (+ LAB_COMMENT_CLINIC), CASE_IMPORTANT, TASK_COMPLETED, TASK_ASSIGNED (assignee only), CONNECTION_REQUEST, STAFF_INVITE — see service call sites.
 
 **Inbox card context** is denormalized inside `UserNotificationService.notify()` (`enrichInboxPayload`) from ids already on the payload (`labCaseId`, `taskId`, `fromOrganizationId`). Emit sites stay thin (`{ labCaseId }`, etc.). Inbox list/read does **not** join related tables. Older rows may lack these fields until new events are emitted.
 
diff --git a/.cursor/skills/tab-badges/SKILL.md b/.cursor/skills/tab-badges/SKILL.md
index 6da2746..5ddf8f0 100644
--- a/.cursor/skills/tab-badges/SKILL.md
+++ b/.cursor/skills/tab-badges/SKILL.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Frontend hook: [`frontend/src/lib/hooks/useTabBadgeCounts.ts`](frontend/src/lib/
 
 ## Models
 
-- **`LabCaseActivity`** — append-only events: `CASE_SENT`, `CLINIC_COMMENT`, `LAB_COMMENT`, `CASE_IMPORTANT`, `CASE_AMENDED` (stub for Step 7), `TASK_COMPLETED`
+- **`LabCaseActivity`** — append-only events: `CASE_SENT`, `CLINIC_COMMENT`, `LAB_COMMENT`, `CASE_IMPORTANT`, `CASE_AMENDED` (stub for Step 7), `TASK_COMPLETED`, `TASK_ASSIGNED`
 - **`LabCaseUserTabReadState`** — per user/org/tab cursor (`TASKS`) for sidebar badge clearing on tab visit.
 - **`LabCaseUserReadState`** — per user/org/labCase cursor; drives Cases tab count and `hasUnread` on case list cards
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Frontend hook: [`frontend/src/lib/hooks/useTabBadgeCounts.ts`](frontend/src/lib/
 | Org | Tab | Activity types |
 |-----|-----|----------------|
 | LAB | Cases | `CASE_SENT`, `CLINIC_COMMENT`, `CASE_IMPORTANT` |
-| LAB | Tasks | `TASK_COMPLETED`, `LAB_COMMENT` |
+| LAB | Tasks | `TASK_COMPLETED`, `LAB_COMMENT`, `TASK_ASSIGNED` (assignee only) |
 | CLINIC | Treatment | `LAB_COMMENT` (only `visibleToClinic`), `TASK_COMPLETED` — **only lab cases for treatments the user provided** |
 
 Counts exclude events where `actorUserId === current user`. Clinic `LAB_COMMENT` counts only when `payload.visibleToClinic === true`.
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ Counts exclude events where `actorUserId === current user`. Clinic `LAB_COMMENT`
 | Comment | `lab-case-comments.service` → `CLINIC_COMMENT` / `LAB_COMMENT` |
 | Mark important | `cases.service` `updateImportant` (only when set true) → `CASE_IMPORTANT` |
 | Task completed | `tasks.service` `updateStatus` → `TASK_COMPLETED` |
+| Task assigned | `cases.service` `assignTask` → `TASK_ASSIGNED` (inbox + Tasks badge for **assignee**, including self-assign) |
 
 After mutations, frontend calls `notifyTabBadgesChanged()` (window event).
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ After mutations, frontend calls `notifyTabBadgesChanged()` (window event).
   - Tasks → silent task list
   - Treatment (`TreatmentWorkspace`) → silent patient lab cases + unread rail
   - Orgs → silent list on `pending-connections-changed` only
-
+- **TASK_ASSIGNED** Tasks badge is assignee-scoped (`payload.assigneeUserId`); other Tasks-bucket events stay org-wide for users with tab access.
 ## Out of scope (later steps)
 
 - Push / email
diff --git a/backend/prisma/migrations/20260718180000_lab_case_activity_task_assigned/migration.sql b/backend/prisma/migrations/20260718180000_lab_case_activity_task_assigned/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61ddf50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/prisma/migrations/20260718180000_lab_case_activity_task_assigned/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+-- AlterEnum
+ALTER TYPE "LabCaseActivityType" ADD VALUE 'TASK_ASSIGNED';
diff --git a/backend/prisma/schema.prisma b/backend/prisma/schema.prisma
index 847efd6..bad97b7 100644
--- a/backend/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/backend/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -429,6 +429,7 @@ enum LabCaseActivityType {
   CASE_IMPORTANT
   CASE_AMENDED
   TASK_COMPLETED
+  TASK_ASSIGNED
 }
 
 enum LabCaseTabReadTarget {
diff --git a/backend/src/common/lab-case-activity.ts b/backend/src/common/lab-case-activity.ts
index c20723c..9b11fd0 100644
--- a/backend/src/common/lab-case-activity.ts
+++ b/backend/src/common/lab-case-activity.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ export const LAB_CASES_TAB_ACTIVITY_TYPES: LabCaseActivityType[] = [
   LabCaseActivityType.CASE_IMPORTANT,
 ];
 
-/** Lab Tasks tab — task completions and lab-side comments. */
+/** Lab Tasks tab — task completions, lab-side comments, and assignments (assignee-scoped in counts). */
 export const LAB_TASKS_TAB_ACTIVITY_TYPES: LabCaseActivityType[] = [
   LabCaseActivityType.TASK_COMPLETED,
   LabCaseActivityType.LAB_COMMENT,
+  LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED,
 ];
 
 /** Clinic Treatment tab — visible lab comments and task progress. */
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/cases/cases.service.ts b/backend/src/modules/cases/cases.service.ts
index aa11e82..fafaf31 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/cases/cases.service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/cases/cases.service.ts
@@ -486,13 +486,20 @@ export class CasesService {
       },
     });
 
-    if (assigneeUserId && assigneeUserId !== actorUserId) {
+    if (assigneeUserId) {
+      await this.labCaseActivity.record({
+        labCaseId,
+        type: LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED,
+        actorUserId,
+        payload: { taskId, assigneeUserId },
+      });
+
       void this.userNotifications.notify({
         organizationId: labOrganizationId,
         type: UserNotificationType.TASK_ASSIGNED,
         href: `/tasks?taskId=${encodeURIComponent(taskId)}&labCaseId=${encodeURIComponent(labCaseId)}`,
         actorUserId,
-        payload: { labCaseId, taskId },
+        payload: { labCaseId, taskId, assigneeUserId },
         recipientUserIds: [assigneeUserId],
       });
     }
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/notifications/lab-case-activity.service.ts b/backend/src/modules/notifications/lab-case-activity.service.ts
index bcf3e06..d19bd94 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/notifications/lab-case-activity.service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/notifications/lab-case-activity.service.ts
@@ -318,7 +318,10 @@ export class LabCaseActivityService {
         const commentId = payload?.commentId;
         if (typeof commentId === 'string') commentIds.push(commentId);
       }
-      if (activity.type === LabCaseActivityType.TASK_COMPLETED) {
+      if (
+        activity.type === LabCaseActivityType.TASK_COMPLETED ||
+        activity.type === LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED
+      ) {
         const taskId = payload?.taskId;
         if (typeof taskId === 'string') taskIds.push(taskId);
       }
@@ -387,18 +390,44 @@ export class LabCaseActivityService {
           };
 
     const clinicLabCommentFilter = this.clinicLabCommentFilter(orgType);
+    const includesTaskAssigned = types.includes(LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED);
+    const otherTypes = types.filter((type) => type !== LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED);
+
+    // TASK_ASSIGNED: count for the assignee only (including self-assign).
+    // Other task-tab types: org-wide, excluding events the current user authored.
+    const typeFilter: Prisma.LabCaseActivityWhereInput = includesTaskAssigned
+      ? {
+          OR: [
+            ...(otherTypes.length > 0
+              ? [
+                  {
+                    AND: [
+                      { type: { in: otherTypes } },
+                      {
+                        OR: [{ actorUserId: null }, { actorUserId: { not: userId } }],
+                      },
+                    ],
+                  },
+                ]
+              : []),
+            {
+              type: LabCaseActivityType.TASK_ASSIGNED,
+              payload: { path: ['assigneeUserId'], equals: userId },
+            },
+          ],
+        }
+      : {
+          AND: [
+            { type: { in: types } },
+            { OR: [{ actorUserId: null }, { actorUserId: { not: userId } }] },
+          ],
+        };
 
     return this.prisma.labCaseActivity.count({
       where: {
-        type: { in: types },
         createdAt: { gt: since },
         labCase: labCaseScope,
-        AND: [
-          {
-            OR: [{ actorUserId: null }, { actorUserId: { not: userId } }],
-          },
-          clinicLabCommentFilter,
-        ],
+        AND: [clinicLabCommentFilter, typeFilter],
       },
     });
   }
diff --git a/backend/src/modules/notifications/user-notification.service.ts b/backend/src/modules/notifications/user-notification.service.ts
index 2c32700..a816325 100644
--- a/backend/src/modules/notifications/user-notification.service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/modules/notifications/user-notification.service.ts
@@ -182,8 +182,9 @@ export class UserNotificationService {
   }
 
   async notify(input: FanoutInput): Promise<void> {
+    // Explicit recipients keep the actor (e.g. self-assign). Fan-out still skips the actor.
     const recipientIds = input.recipientUserIds?.length
-      ? [...new Set(input.recipientUserIds.filter((id) => id && id !== input.actorUserId))]
+      ? [...new Set(input.recipientUserIds.filter((id): id is string => Boolean(id)))]
       : await this.resolveRecipients(input);
 
     if (recipientIds.length === 0) return;
diff --git a/frontend/messages/en.json b/frontend/messages/en.json
index 3a8ce24..ee0bb53 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/en.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/en.json
@@ -761,6 +761,7 @@
     "activityClinicComment": "{actor}: “{preview}” · {date}",
     "activityLabComment": "{actor}: “{preview}” · {date}",
     "activityTaskCompleted": "{step} completed by {actor} · {date}",
+    "activityTaskAssigned": "{step} assigned by {actor} · {date}",
     "activityCaseImportant": "Marked important by {actor} · {date}",
     "activityCaseAmended": "Case updated by {actor} · {date}",
     "activityGeneric": "Update · {date}",
diff --git a/frontend/messages/fa.json b/frontend/messages/fa.json
index e31bd60..3dd5791 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/fa.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/fa.json
@@ -762,6 +762,7 @@
     "activityClinicComment": "{actor}: «{preview}» · {date}",
     "activityLabComment": "{actor}: «{preview}» · {date}",
     "activityTaskCompleted": "{step} توسط {actor} تکمیل شد · {date}",
+    "activityTaskAssigned": "{step} توسط {actor} اختصاص داده شد · {date}",
     "activityCaseImportant": "مهم علامت‌گذاری شد توسط {actor} · {date}",
     "activityCaseAmended": "پرونده به‌روزرسانی شد توسط {actor} · {date}",
     "activityGeneric": "به‌روزرسانی · {date}",
diff --git a/frontend/messages/nl.json b/frontend/messages/nl.json
index 75b5fae..7573cdb 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/nl.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/nl.json
@@ -761,6 +761,7 @@
     "activityClinicComment": "{actor}: “{preview}” · {date}",
     "activityLabComment": "{actor}: “{preview}” · {date}",
     "activityTaskCompleted": "{step} voltooid door {actor} · {date}",
+    "activityTaskAssigned": "{step} toegewezen door {actor} · {date}",
     "activityCaseImportant": "Als belangrijk gemarkeerd door {actor} · {date}",
     "activityCaseAmended": "Case bijgewerkt door {actor} · {date}",
     "activityGeneric": "Update · {date}",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/lab/CasesPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/lab/CasesPage.tsx
index b9f6e06..cdfd8d5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/lab/CasesPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/lab/CasesPage.tsx
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ export function CasesPage() {
     try {
       const response = await casesApi.assignTask(selectedCaseId, taskId, assigneeUserId);
       setSelectedCase(response.data);
+      notifyTabBadgesChanged();
     } catch (error: unknown) {
       toast.showError(getUserFacingError(error, tErrors, t('errorAssignTask')));
     } finally {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/labCaseActivityLabels.ts b/frontend/src/lib/labCaseActivityLabels.ts
index 4dd40c3..117f2de 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/labCaseActivityLabels.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/labCaseActivityLabels.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ export function formatLabCaseActivityLine(
         actor,
         date,
       });
+    case 'TASK_ASSIGNED':
+      return t('activityTaskAssigned', {
+        step: activity.stepLabel ?? t('activityUnknownStep'),
+        actor,
+        date,
+      });
     case 'CASE_IMPORTANT':
       return t('activityCaseImportant', { actor, date });
     case 'CASE_AMENDED':
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/realtime/RealtimeProvider.tsx b/frontend/src/lib/realtime/RealtimeProvider.tsx
index 07a11b7..f5035b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/realtime/RealtimeProvider.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/realtime/RealtimeProvider.tsx
@@ -78,11 +78,16 @@ export function RealtimeProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     const socket = io(`${apiOrigin()}/realtime`, {
       withCredentials: true,
       transports: ['websocket', 'polling'],
+      // Avoid hammering the gateway with an expired cookie; we reconnect after refresh.
+      reconnection: true,
+      reconnectionAttempts: 5,
+      reconnectionDelay: 2000,
     });
     socketRef.current = socket;
 
     socket.on('connect', () => setConnected(true));
     socket.on('disconnect', () => setConnected(false));
+    socket.on('connect_error', () => setConnected(false));
     socket.on('notification.created', (payload: { notification?: UserNotificationItem }) => {
       if (payload?.notification) {
         setLastNotification(payload.notification);
diff --git a/frontend/src/types/lab-case-activity.ts b/frontend/src/types/lab-case-activity.ts
index 07e7532..fed69c9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types/lab-case-activity.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types/lab-case-activity.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ export type LabCaseActivityType =
   | 'LAB_COMMENT'
   | 'CASE_IMPORTANT'
   | 'CASE_AMENDED'
-  | 'TASK_COMPLETED';
+  | 'TASK_COMPLETED'
+  | 'TASK_ASSIGNED';
 
 export interface LabCaseActivityItem {
   id: string;