diff --git a/subgraph/src/OptimisticRecipientRegistryMapping.ts b/subgraph/src/OptimisticRecipientRegistryMapping.ts
index f02ba444b..506cc9c83 100644
--- a/subgraph/src/OptimisticRecipientRegistryMapping.ts
+++ b/subgraph/src/OptimisticRecipientRegistryMapping.ts
@@ -57,17 +57,36 @@ export function handleRequestSubmitted(event: RequestSubmitted): void {
   //TODO: create RecipientRegistry entity here if it does not exist.
 
   let recipientId = event.params._recipientId.toHexString()
-  let recipient = new Recipient(recipientId)
 
-  recipient.recipientRegistry = recipientRegistryId
-  recipient.recipientAddress = event.params._recipient
-  recipient.requestType = BigInt.fromI32(event.params._type).toString()
-  recipient.requester = event.transaction.from.toHexString()
-  recipient.submissionTime = event.params._timestamp.toString()
-  recipient.deposit = event.transaction.value
-  recipient.recipientMetadata = event.params._metadata
-  recipient.verified = false
-  recipient.requestSubmittedHash = event.transaction.hash
+  if (event.params._type == 0) {
+    // add recipient request
+    let recipient = new Recipient(recipientId)
+    recipient.recipientRegistry = recipientRegistryId
+    recipient.recipientAddress = event.params._recipient
+    recipient.requester = event.transaction.from.toHexString()
+    recipient.deposit = event.transaction.value
+    recipient.recipientMetadata = event.params._metadata
 
-  recipient.save()
+    // requestSubmittedHash stores the transaction hash for add recipient request
+    // the UI uses it to look up the newly added recipient record
+    recipient.requestSubmittedHash = event.transaction.hash
+    recipient.requestType = BigInt.fromI32(event.params._type).toString()
+    recipient.submissionTime = event.params._timestamp.toString()
+    recipient.verified = false
+    recipient.save()
+  } else {
+    // deleteRecipient request
+    // no need to update metadata and recipient address as they are not available for delete requests
+    let recipient = Recipient.load(recipientId)
+    if (recipient == null) {
+      // this should not happen, record the transaction hash for troubleshooting
+      recipient = new Recipient(recipientId)
+      recipient.requestSubmittedHash = event.transaction.hash
+    }
+    recipient.recipientRegistry = recipientRegistryId
+    recipient.requestType = BigInt.fromI32(event.params._type).toString()
+    recipient.submissionTime = event.params._timestamp.toString()
+    recipient.verified = false
+    recipient.save()
+  }
 }
diff --git a/vue-app/src/api/recipient-registry-optimistic.ts b/vue-app/src/api/recipient-registry-optimistic.ts
index a2493568b..6550092cf 100644
--- a/vue-app/src/api/recipient-registry-optimistic.ts
+++ b/vue-app/src/api/recipient-registry-optimistic.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export enum RequestStatus {
   Accepted = 'Accepted',
   Rejected = 'Rejected',
   Executed = 'Live',
+  PendingRemoval = 'Pending removal',
   Removed = 'Removed',
 }
 
@@ -131,6 +132,10 @@ export async function getRequests(registryInfo: RegistryInfo, registryAddress: s
 
     if (recipient.verified) {
       request.status = requestType === RequestTypeCode.Removal ? RequestStatus.Removed : RequestStatus.Executed
+    } else {
+      if (requestType === RequestTypeCode.Removal) {
+        request.status = RequestStatus.PendingRemoval
+      }
     }
 
     // In case there are two requests submissions events, we always prioritize
@@ -255,6 +260,9 @@ export async function getProjects(registryAddress: string, startTime?: number, e
             // Disallow contributions to removed recipient, but don't hide it
             project.isLocked = true
           }
+        } else {
+          // project is not removed yet, keep the index so that it can still receive contributions
+          project.index = recipient.recipientIndex
         }
       }
 
@@ -309,9 +317,14 @@ export async function getProject(recipientId: string, filter = true): Promise<Pr
     }
   }
 
-  if (requestType === RequestTypeCode.Removal && recipient.verified) {
-    // Disallow contributions to removed recipient
-    project.isLocked = true
+  if (requestType === RequestTypeCode.Removal) {
+    if (recipient.verified) {
+      // Disallow contributions to removed recipient
+      project.isLocked = true
+    } else {
+      // project is not removed yet, keep the index so that it can still receive contributions
+      project.index = recipient.recipientIndex
+    }
   }
   return project
 }
diff --git a/vue-app/src/views/RecipientRegistry.vue b/vue-app/src/views/RecipientRegistry.vue
index d3c090708..6e7cf2c68 100644
--- a/vue-app/src/views/RecipientRegistry.vue
+++ b/vue-app/src/views/RecipientRegistry.vue
@@ -113,11 +113,7 @@
                 >
                   <img src="@/assets/checkmark.svg" />
                 </div>
-                <div
-                  class="icon-btn-reject"
-                  v-if="isOwner && (isPending(request) || isAccepted(request))"
-                  @click="reject(request)"
-                >
+                <div class="icon-btn-reject" v-if="isOwner && isPending(request)" @click="reject(request)">
                   <img src="@/assets/close.svg" />
                 </div>
               </div>