diff --git a/common/user.ts b/common/user.ts
index 2e8a0489..d3ab391e 100644
--- a/common/user.ts
+++ b/common/user.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ export const STARTING_BALANCE = 1000
 export const SUS_STARTING_BALANCE = 10 // for sus users, i.e. multiple sign ups for same person
 
 export type PrivateUser = {
+  id: string // same as User.id
+  username: string // denormalized from User
+
   email?: string
   unsubscribedFromResolutionEmails?: boolean
   initialDeviceToken?: string
diff --git a/functions/src/create-user.ts b/functions/src/create-user.ts
index d50f017b..71ed565f 100644
--- a/functions/src/create-user.ts
+++ b/functions/src/create-user.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ export const createUser = functions
     console.log('created user', username, 'firebase id:', userId)
 
     const privateUser: PrivateUser = {
+      id: userId,
+      username,
       email,
       initialIpAddress: ipAddress,
       initialDeviceToken: deviceToken,