diff --git a/backend/custom_admin/admin.py b/backend/custom_admin/admin.py
index 7151a2d84e..a1fe84fb7c 100644
--- a/backend/custom_admin/admin.py
+++ b/backend/custom_admin/admin.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def wrapper(modeladmin, request, queryset):
 def confirm_pending_status(modeladmin, request, queryset):
     queryset.update(
         status=F("pending_status"),
+        pending_status=None,
     )
 
 
@@ -67,5 +68,5 @@ def confirm_pending_status(modeladmin, request, queryset):
 @validate_single_conference_selection
 def reset_pending_status_back_to_status(modeladmin, request, queryset):
     queryset.update(
-        pending_status=F("status"),
+        pending_status=None,
     )
diff --git a/backend/grants/admin.py b/backend/grants/admin.py
index 6615e8bd06..bca135cd9e 100644
--- a/backend/grants/admin.py
+++ b/backend/grants/admin.py
@@ -652,8 +652,8 @@ def get_queryset(self, request):
         return (
             super()
             .get_queryset(request)
-            .exclude(
-                pending_status=F("status"),
+            .filter(
+                pending_status__isnull=False,
             )
         )
 
diff --git a/backend/grants/migrations/0029_alter_grant_pending_status.py b/backend/grants/migrations/0029_alter_grant_pending_status.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d04d003dfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/grants/migrations/0029_alter_grant_pending_status.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.1.4 on 2025-07-27 14:16
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('grants', '0028_remove_grant_pretix_voucher_id_and_more'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='grant',
+            name='pending_status',
+            field=models.CharField(blank=True, choices=[('pending', 'Pending'), ('rejected', 'Rejected'), ('approved', 'Approved'), ('waiting_list', 'Waiting List'), ('waiting_list_maybe', 'Waiting List, Maybe'), ('waiting_for_confirmation', 'Waiting for confirmation'), ('refused', 'Refused'), ('confirmed', 'Confirmed'), ('did_not_attend', 'Did Not Attend')], max_length=30, null=True, verbose_name='pending status'),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/backend/grants/models.py b/backend/grants/models.py
index a7bb447af8..d57384d550 100644
--- a/backend/grants/models.py
+++ b/backend/grants/models.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class ApprovedType(models.TextChoices):
         _("pending status"),
         choices=Status.choices,
         max_length=30,
-        default=Status.pending,
+        null=True,
         blank=True,
     )
     approved_type = models.CharField(
@@ -229,9 +229,6 @@ def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._update_country_type()
         self._calculate_grant_amounts()
 
-        if self.pending_status == self._original_status:
-            self.pending_status = self.status
-
         update_fields = kwargs.get("update_fields", None)
         if update_fields:
             update_fields.append("total_amount")
@@ -249,7 +246,7 @@ def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self._original_status = self.status
 
     def _calculate_grant_amounts(self):
-        if self.pending_status != Grant.Status.approved:
+        if self.current_or_pending_status != Grant.Status.approved:
             return
 
         if (
@@ -332,6 +329,10 @@ def has_approved_accommodation(self):
             or self.approved_type == Grant.ApprovedType.ticket_travel_accommodation
         )
 
+    @property
+    def current_or_pending_status(self):
+        return self.pending_status or self.status
+
 
 class GrantConfirmPendingStatusProxy(Grant):
     class Meta:
diff --git a/backend/grants/tests/test_admin.py b/backend/grants/tests/test_admin.py
index 9cf22c7ce8..d394a1eff9 100644
--- a/backend/grants/tests/test_admin.py
+++ b/backend/grants/tests/test_admin.py
@@ -485,6 +485,11 @@ def test_confirm_pending_status_action(rf):
     assert grant_1.status == Grant.Status.confirmed
     assert grant_2.status == Grant.Status.waiting_list
     assert grant_3.status == Grant.Status.waiting_list_maybe
+
+    assert grant_1.pending_status is None
+    assert grant_2.pending_status is None
+    assert grant_3.pending_status is None
+
     # Left out from the action
     assert grant_4.status == Grant.Status.waiting_list_maybe
 
@@ -524,13 +529,13 @@ def test_reset_pending_status_back_to_status_action(rf):
     grant_4.refresh_from_db()
 
     assert grant_1.status == Grant.Status.pending
-    assert grant_1.pending_status == Grant.Status.pending
+    assert grant_1.pending_status is None
 
     assert grant_2.status == Grant.Status.rejected
-    assert grant_2.pending_status == Grant.Status.rejected
+    assert grant_2.pending_status is None
 
     assert grant_3.status == Grant.Status.waiting_list
-    assert grant_3.pending_status == Grant.Status.waiting_list
+    assert grant_3.pending_status is None
 
     # Left out from the action
     assert grant_4.status == Grant.Status.waiting_list_maybe
diff --git a/backend/grants/tests/test_models.py b/backend/grants/tests/test_models.py
index ce68b0479a..5bb922cb4f 100644
--- a/backend/grants/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/backend/grants/tests/test_models.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def test_sets_country_type_does_nothing_if_unset():
     assert grant.country_type is None
 
 
-def test_syncs_pending_status_on_change():
+def test_pending_status_no_longer_syncs_with_status():
     grant = GrantFactory(
         pending_status=Grant.Status.pending,
         status=Grant.Status.pending,
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@ def test_syncs_pending_status_on_change():
     grant.status = Grant.Status.approved
     grant.save(update_fields=["status"])
 
-    # Pending status should be updated to match the status
+    # Pending status should remain unchanged when status changes
     grant.refresh_from_db()
 
-    assert grant.pending_status == Grant.Status.approved
+    assert grant.pending_status == Grant.Status.pending  # Should remain unchanged
     assert grant.status == Grant.Status.approved
 
 
@@ -192,3 +192,34 @@ def test_doesnt_sync_pending_status_if_different_values():
 
     assert grant.pending_status == Grant.Status.refused
     assert grant.status == Grant.Status.waiting_for_confirmation
+
+
+def test_pending_status_none_means_no_pending_change():
+    grant = GrantFactory(
+        pending_status=None,
+        status=Grant.Status.approved,
+    )
+
+    # When pending_status is None, the effective status should be the current status
+    # This affects the _calculate_grant_amounts method
+    grant.approved_type = Grant.ApprovedType.ticket_only
+    grant.departure_country = "IT"
+    grant.save()
+
+    # Since effective status is approved (from status field), amounts should be calculated
+    assert grant.ticket_amount is not None
+
+
+def test_pending_status_set_overrides_current_status():
+    grant = GrantFactory(
+        pending_status=Grant.Status.approved,
+        status=Grant.Status.pending,
+    )
+
+    # When pending_status is set, it should be used as the effective status
+    grant.approved_type = Grant.ApprovedType.ticket_only
+    grant.departure_country = "IT"
+    grant.save()
+
+    # Since effective status is approved (from pending_status), amounts should be calculated
+    assert grant.ticket_amount is not None
diff --git a/backend/reviews/admin.py b/backend/reviews/admin.py
index fd6c4eca92..4ec1e5af6d 100644
--- a/backend/reviews/admin.py
+++ b/backend/reviews/admin.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def go_to_review_screen(self, obj):
 
         return mark_safe(
             f"""
-    <a href="{reverse('admin:reviews-start', kwargs={'review_session_id': obj.id})}">
+    <a href="{reverse("admin:reviews-start", kwargs={"review_session_id": obj.id})}">
         Go to review screen
     </a>
 """
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def go_to_recap_screen(self, obj):
 
         return mark_safe(
             f"""
-    <a href="{reverse('admin:reviews-recap', kwargs={'review_session_id': obj.id})}">
+    <a href="{reverse("admin:reviews-recap", kwargs={"review_session_id": obj.id})}">
         Go to recap screen
     </a>
 """
@@ -282,7 +282,11 @@ def _review_grants_recap_view(self, request, review_session):
 
                 approved_type = approved_type_decisions.get(grant.id, "")
 
-                grant.pending_status = decision
+                if decision != grant.status:
+                    grant.pending_status = decision
+                elif decision == grant.status:
+                    grant.pending_status = None
+
                 grant.approved_type = (
                     approved_type if decision == Grant.Status.approved else None
                 )
@@ -736,7 +740,7 @@ def _render_proposal_review(
             seen=request.GET.get("seen", "").split(","),
             existing_comment=existing_comment,
             review_session_repr=str(review_session),
-            title=f'Proposal Review: {proposal.title.localize("en")}',
+            title=f"Proposal Review: {proposal.title.localize('en')}",
         )
         return TemplateResponse(request, "proposal-review.html", context)
 
diff --git a/backend/reviews/templates/grants-recap.html b/backend/reviews/templates/grants-recap.html
index 967ca0074d..d41ddfb107 100644
--- a/backend/reviews/templates/grants-recap.html
+++ b/backend/reviews/templates/grants-recap.html
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
               updateBottomBarUI();
           });
 
-          waitinglistInput.addEventListener("change", () => {
+          waitinglistmaybeInput.addEventListener("change", () => {
               grantData.status = "waiting_list_maybe";
               updateBottomBarUI();
           });
@@ -469,13 +469,13 @@ <h3>
               <script>
                 grantsById[{{item.id}}] = {
                     id: {{item.id}},
-                    status: "{{ item.pending_status }}",
-                    originalStatus: "{{ item.pending_status }}",
+                    status: "{{ item.current_or_pending_status }}",
+                    originalStatus: "{{ item.current_or_pending_status }}",
                     numOfVotes: {{item.userreview_set.count}},
                 };
               </script>
               <tr
-                data-original-status="{{ item.pending_status }}"
+                data-original-status="{{ item.current_or_pending_status }}"
                 data-original-approved-type="{{ item.approved_type }}"
                 class="grant-item"
                 id="grant-{{ item.id }}"
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ <h3>
                     {% for status in all_review_statuses %}
                     <li>
                       <label>
-                        <input {% if item.pending_status == status.0 %}checked{% endif %}
+                        <input {% if item.current_or_pending_status == status.0 %}checked{% endif %}
                           type="radio"
                           class="status-decision-radio"
                           name="decision-{{item.id}}"
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ <h3>
                   {% if perms.reviews.decision_reviewsession %}
                   <ul
                     data-item-id="{{ item.id }}"
-                    class="approved-type-choices {% if item.pending_status != 'approved' %}hidden{% endif %}"
+                    class="approved-type-choices {% if item.current_or_pending_status != 'approved' %}hidden{% endif %}"
                   >
                     {% for approved_type in all_approved_types %}
                     <li>