diff --git a/backend/src/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts b/backend/src/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
index e02f5da..1d9bc1a 100644
--- a/backend/src/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
+++ b/backend/src/auth/strategies/jwt.strategy.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import { Injectable } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { Injectable, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { PassportStrategy } from '@nestjs/passport';
 import { ExtractJwt, Strategy } from 'passport-jwt';
 import { ConfigService } from '@nestjs/config';
+import { UsersService } from '../../users/users.service';
 
 interface JwtPayload {
   sub: string;
@@ -13,7 +14,10 @@ interface JwtPayload {
 
 @Injectable()
 export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy) {
-  constructor(configService: ConfigService) {
+  constructor(
+    configService: ConfigService,
+    private readonly usersService: UsersService,
+  ) {
     super({
       jwtFromRequest: ExtractJwt.fromAuthHeaderAsBearerToken(),
       ignoreExpiration: false,
@@ -22,10 +26,20 @@ export class JwtStrategy extends PassportStrategy(Strategy) {
   }
 
   async validate(payload: JwtPayload) {
+    // Resolve the role (and active status) from the database on every request
+    // rather than trusting the token. A token's `role` claim is frozen at login,
+    // so a role change or deactivation would otherwise stay ineffective until the
+    // token expires. `payload.sub` is the impersonated user on impersonation
+    // tokens, so this keeps "login as user" working with the target's live role.
+    const user = await this.usersService.findById(payload.sub);
+    if (!user || !user.isActive) {
+      throw new UnauthorizedException();
+    }
+
     return {
-      id: payload.sub,
-      email: payload.email,
-      role: payload.role,
+      id: user.id,
+      email: user.email ?? user.phone,
+      role: user.role,
       // Non-null only while an admin is impersonating this user.
       impersonatedBy: payload.act?.sub ?? null,
       impersonatorRole: payload.act?.role ?? null,
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/[lang]/dashboard/layout.tsx b/frontend/src/app/[lang]/dashboard/layout.tsx
index b4c5130..20b8aa5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/[lang]/dashboard/layout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/[lang]/dashboard/layout.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { useLocalizedRouter, usePathname } from '@/i18n/navigation';
 import { useT } from '@/i18n/I18nProvider';
 import { LanguageSwitcher } from '@/i18n/LanguageSwitcher';
 import type { Dictionary } from '@/i18n/dictionaries/fa';
+import type { User } from '@/types';
 import { DeploymentProgressManager } from '@/components/deployment-progress-manager';
 import { ImpersonationBanner } from '@/components/impersonation-banner';
 import { useDeployProgressStore } from '@/lib/deploy-progress-store';
@@ -72,9 +73,28 @@ const salesNavItems: NavItem[] = [
   { href: '/dashboard/staff/tickets', labelKey: 'salesTickets', icon: <Briefcase className="w-4 h-4" /> },
 ];
 
+/** The nav items a given role is allowed to see — the source of truth for both the sidebar and access control. */
+function navItemsForRole(role: User['role'] | undefined): NavItem[] {
+  const items = [...userNavItems];
+  if (role === 'admin') items.push(...adminNavItems);
+  if (role === 'technical') items.push(...technicalNavItems);
+  if (role === 'sales') items.push(...salesNavItems);
+  return items;
+}
+
+/** Whether `pathname` (locale-stripped) is reachable for the role, matching the sidebar's active-link logic. */
+function isPathAllowed(pathname: string, role: User['role'] | undefined): boolean {
+  // Admin is a superset and may reach any dashboard page (incl. ones not in its
+  // sidebar, e.g. staff views), so never redirect an admin.
+  if (role === 'admin') return true;
+  return navItemsForRole(role).some(
+    (item) => pathname === item.href || pathname.startsWith(item.href + '/'),
+  );
+}
+
 export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const t = useT();
-  const { user, isAuthenticated, isLoading, logout } = useAuthStore();
+  const { user, isAuthenticated, isLoading, logout, setUser } = useAuthStore();
   const router = useLocalizedRouter();
   const pathname = usePathname();
   const [sidebarOpen, setSidebarOpen] = useState(false);
@@ -86,6 +106,34 @@ export default function DashboardLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
     }
   }, [isLoading, isAuthenticated, router]);
 
+  // Re-validate the session so a role change (or deactivation) made by an admin
+  // takes effect without a hard reload. Polls in the background and refetches
+  // when the tab regains focus; a deactivated account 401s and gets logged out
+  // by the axios interceptor.
+  const { data: freshUser } = useQuery<User>({
+    queryKey: ['current-user'],
+    queryFn: () => api.get('/users/me').then((r) => r.data),
+    enabled: isAuthenticated,
+    refetchInterval: 30000,
+    refetchOnWindowFocus: true,
+  });
+
+  // Push the latest role into the store only when it actually changes, so the
+  // sidebar and role-gated sections re-render against current permissions.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (freshUser && freshUser.role !== user?.role) {
+      setUser(freshUser);
+    }
+  }, [freshUser, user?.role, setUser]);
+
+  // If the current role can no longer reach this page (e.g. an admin demoted to
+  // a regular user while sitting on an admin page), bounce to the dashboard home.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isLoading && isAuthenticated && user && !isPathAllowed(pathname, user.role)) {
+      router.replace('/dashboard');
+    }
+  }, [pathname, user, isLoading, isAuthenticated, router]);
+
   // Close sidebar on route change (mobile)
   useEffect(() => {
     setSidebarOpen(false);