diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2cabf2c..ac9911b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 One line per change, grouped by the release that shipped it. Newest
 first. Each release names the portal tag it is built against.
 
+## Unreleased
+
+- The effort budget counts what a person fills in: a `type: record` field (the case an answer is about, carried on the link) and a `hidden` preset are not asked and no longer count. An objection page whose form carried the application's id used to be one field over.
+
 ## 0.5.6 (2026-09-30) - portal v0.5.6
 
 - Matches portal v0.5.6 (released by portal's publish job).
diff --git a/src/needs.rs b/src/needs.rs
index c462c05..032882b 100644
--- a/src/needs.rs
+++ b/src/needs.rs
@@ -157,11 +157,14 @@ fn visible(q: &Question, as_group: Option<&str>) -> bool {
     }
 }
 
+/// What a person has to fill in: required fields, less the ones that
+/// carry rather than ask - a `record` naming the case an answer is
+/// about, a `hidden` preset - which cost nobody anything.
 fn required_fields(alt: &Alternative) -> usize {
     alt.features
         .iter()
         .flat_map(|f| &f.requirements)
-        .filter(|r| !r.optional)
+        .filter(|r| !r.optional && r.kind != "record" && r.kind != "hidden")
         .count()
 }
 
@@ -860,6 +863,19 @@ mod tests {
         let (questions, aggregates) = site(FULL_DESK);
         let findings = check(&needs("    max_fields: 1\n"), &questions, &aggregates);
         assert_eq!(fails(&findings), vec!["the path asks for 2 required field(s), over the budget of 1"]);
+        // A field that carries rather than asks is not effort: the
+        // record an answer is about arrives on the link.
+        let (mut questions, aggregates) = site(FULL_DESK);
+        let front = questions.get_mut("/").unwrap();
+        let brief = &mut front.alternatives[0].features[0].requirements;
+        let mut carrier = brief[0].clone();
+        carrier.name = "case".into();
+        carrier.kind = "record".into();
+        carrier.of = Some("projects".into());
+        carrier.optional = false;
+        brief.push(carrier);
+        let findings = check(&needs("    max_fields: 2\n"), &questions, &aggregates);
+        assert!(fails(&findings).is_empty(), "{findings:?}");
     }
 
     #[test]