diff --git a/components/DuplicateNotificationBanner.vue b/components/DuplicateNotificationBanner.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59b15e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/DuplicateNotificationBanner.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<template>
+  <v-alert
+    v-if="showBanner && duplicateCount > 0"
+    type="warning"
+    variant="tonal"
+    closable
+    @click:close="dismissBanner"
+    class="ma-4"
+  >
+    <template #prepend>
+      <v-icon>mdi-content-duplicate</v-icon>
+    </template>
+    
+    <div class="d-flex align-center justify-space-between">
+      <div>
+        <div class="text-subtitle-1 font-weight-medium">
+          {{ duplicateCount }} duplicate interest record{{ duplicateCount > 1 ? 's' : '' }} detected
+        </div>
+        <div class="text-body-2">
+          Duplicate records can affect data integrity and reporting accuracy.
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      
+      <v-btn
+        color="warning"
+        variant="elevated"
+        size="small"
+        :to="'/dashboard/admin/duplicates'"
+        prepend-icon="mdi-wrench"
+      >
+        Clean Up Duplicates
+      </v-btn>
+    </div>
+  </v-alert>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+const { isAdmin } = useAuthorization();
+
+const showBanner = ref(true);
+const duplicateCount = ref(0);
+const loading = ref(false);
+
+// Check for duplicates on mount (admin only)
+const checkForDuplicates = async () => {
+  if (!isAdmin() || loading.value) return;
+  
+  try {
+    loading.value = true;
+    const response = await $fetch('/api/admin/duplicates/find', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: { threshold: 80 }
+    });
+    
+    if (response.success && response.data?.duplicateGroups) {
+      duplicateCount.value = response.data.duplicateGroups.length;
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('[DuplicateNotification] Failed to check for duplicates:', error);
+    // Silently fail - this is just a notification banner
+  } finally {
+    loading.value = false;
+  }
+};
+
+// Dismiss the banner for this session
+const dismissBanner = () => {
+  showBanner.value = false;
+  // Store dismissal in session storage
+  if (process.client) {
+    sessionStorage.setItem('duplicates-banner-dismissed', 'true');
+  }
+};
+
+// Check if banner was already dismissed this session
+onMounted(() => {
+  if (process.client) {
+    const dismissed = sessionStorage.getItem('duplicates-banner-dismissed');
+    if (dismissed === 'true') {
+      showBanner.value = false;
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  // Only check for duplicates if user is admin
+  if (isAdmin()) {
+    // Small delay to let other components load first
+    setTimeout(checkForDuplicates, 2000);
+  }
+});
+</script>
diff --git a/composables/useAuthorization.ts b/composables/useAuthorization.ts
index ccbc770..c7ffcd7 100644
--- a/composables/useAuthorization.ts
+++ b/composables/useAuthorization.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ export interface AuthState {
  * Authorization composable for role-based access control
  */
 export const useAuthorization = () => {
+  // Get the cached auth state from middleware instead of making API calls
+  const nuxtApp = useNuxtApp();
+  
   // Simple reactive state that starts with safe defaults
   const authState = reactive<AuthState>({
     user: null,
@@ -28,23 +31,23 @@ export const useAuthorization = () => {
   const isLoading = ref(true);
   const hasInitialized = ref(false);
 
-  // Initialize auth state with comprehensive error handling
-  const initializeAuth = async () => {
+  // Initialize auth state from middleware cache (no API calls!)
+  const initializeAuth = () => {
     if (hasInitialized.value) return;
 
     try {
-      console.log('[useAuthorization] Initializing auth state...');
+      console.log('[useAuthorization] Initializing from middleware cache...');
       
-      // Try to get auth from session API directly
-      const sessionData = await $fetch('/api/auth/session') as AuthState;
+      // Try to get auth from middleware's cached state first
+      const cachedAuthState = nuxtApp.payload?.data?.authState;
       
-      if (sessionData && typeof sessionData === 'object') {
-        // Update reactive state
-        authState.user = sessionData.user || null;
-        authState.authenticated = sessionData.authenticated || false;
-        authState.groups = Array.isArray(sessionData.groups) ? sessionData.groups : [];
+      if (cachedAuthState && typeof cachedAuthState === 'object') {
+        // Update reactive state from cache
+        authState.user = cachedAuthState.user || null;
+        authState.authenticated = cachedAuthState.authenticated || false;
+        authState.groups = Array.isArray(cachedAuthState.groups) ? cachedAuthState.groups : [];
         
-        console.log('[useAuthorization] Auth state initialized:', {
+        console.log('[useAuthorization] Auth state loaded from cache:', {
           authenticated: authState.authenticated,
           groups: authState.groups,
           user: authState.user?.email
@@ -54,11 +57,31 @@ export const useAuthorization = () => {
         isLoading.value = false;
         return true;
       }
+      
+      // Fallback: try session cache
+      const sessionCache = nuxtApp.payload?.data?.['auth:session:cache'];
+      if (sessionCache && typeof sessionCache === 'object') {
+        authState.user = sessionCache.user || null;
+        authState.authenticated = sessionCache.authenticated || false;
+        authState.groups = Array.isArray(sessionCache.groups) ? sessionCache.groups : [];
+        
+        console.log('[useAuthorization] Auth state loaded from session cache:', {
+          authenticated: authState.authenticated,
+          groups: authState.groups,
+          user: authState.user?.email
+        });
+        
+        hasInitialized.value = true;
+        isLoading.value = false;
+        return true;
+      }
+      
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('[useAuthorization] Failed to initialize auth:', error);
+      console.error('[useAuthorization] Failed to load from cache:', error);
     }
     
-    // Set safe defaults on error
+    // Set safe defaults if no cache available
+    console.log('[useAuthorization] No cache available, using defaults');
     authState.user = null;
     authState.authenticated = false;
     authState.groups = [];
@@ -67,9 +90,34 @@ export const useAuthorization = () => {
     return false;
   };
 
-  // Initialize immediately on client
+  // Initialize immediately (both client and server)
+  initializeAuth();
+  
+  // Watch for changes in payload data and reinitialize
   if (process.client) {
-    initializeAuth();
+    watch(
+      () => nuxtApp.payload?.data?.authState,
+      (newAuthState) => {
+        if (newAuthState && typeof newAuthState === 'object') {
+          console.log('[useAuthorization] Auth state updated, reinitializing...');
+          hasInitialized.value = false; // Force re-initialization
+          initializeAuth();
+        }
+      },
+      { immediate: true, deep: true }
+    );
+    
+    // Also watch for session cache updates
+    watch(
+      () => nuxtApp.payload?.data?.['auth:session:cache'],
+      (newSessionCache) => {
+        if (newSessionCache && typeof newSessionCache === 'object' && !hasInitialized.value) {
+          console.log('[useAuthorization] Session cache updated, initializing...');
+          initializeAuth();
+        }
+      },
+      { immediate: true, deep: true }
+    );
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/pages/dashboard.vue b/pages/dashboard.vue
index d0c183d..c83c86a 100644
--- a/pages/dashboard.vue
+++ b/pages/dashboard.vue
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
       <v-list color="primary" lines="two">
         <v-list-item
-          v-for="(item, index) in menu"
+          v-for="(item, index) in safeMenu"
           :key="index"
           :to="item.to"
           :title="item.title"
@@ -191,6 +191,53 @@ const menu = computed(() =>
   toValue(tags).interest ? interestMenu : defaultMenu
 );
 
+// Safe menu wrapper to prevent crashes when menu is undefined
+const safeMenu = computed(() => {
+  try {
+    const currentMenu = menu.value;
+    if (Array.isArray(currentMenu)) {
+      return currentMenu;
+    }
+    
+    console.warn('[Dashboard] Menu is not an array, returning fallback menu');
+    
+    // Fallback menu with essential items (including admin for safety)
+    return [
+      {
+        to: "/dashboard/interest-list",
+        icon: "mdi-view-list",
+        title: "Interest List",
+      },
+      {
+        to: "/dashboard/expenses",
+        icon: "mdi-receipt",
+        title: "Expenses",
+      },
+      {
+        to: "/dashboard/file-browser",
+        icon: "mdi-folder",
+        title: "File Browser",
+      },
+      {
+        to: "/dashboard/admin",
+        icon: "mdi-shield-crown",
+        title: "Admin Console",
+      },
+    ];
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('[Dashboard] Error computing menu:', error);
+    
+    // Emergency fallback menu
+    return [
+      {
+        to: "/dashboard/interest-list",
+        icon: "mdi-view-list",
+        title: "Interest List",
+      },
+    ];
+  }
+});
+
 const logOut = async () => {
   await logout();
   return navigateTo("/login");
diff --git a/pages/dashboard/interest-list.vue b/pages/dashboard/interest-list.vue
index e6e0bca..e2fc7d7 100644
--- a/pages/dashboard/interest-list.vue
+++ b/pages/dashboard/interest-list.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <template>
   <div>
     <v-container fluid>
+      <!-- Duplicate notification banner for admins -->
+      <DuplicateNotificationBanner />
+      
       <!-- Header Section -->
       <v-row class="mb-4 mb-md-6">
         <v-col cols="12" md="8">