diff --git a/tests/incentivization/test_poc_reputation.nim b/tests/incentivization/test_poc_reputation.nim
index a74ebd102..95348874f 100644
--- a/tests/incentivization/test_poc_reputation.nim
+++ b/tests/incentivization/test_poc_reputation.nim
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@ import
   waku/[node/peer_manager, waku_core],
   waku/incentivization/[rpc, reputation_manager],
   waku/waku_lightpush/[rpc, common]
-import std/options, testutils/unittests, chronos, web3
-
-import waku/incentivization/reputation_manager, waku/waku_lightpush_legacy/rpc
 
 suite "Waku Incentivization PoC Reputation":
   var manager {.threadvar.}: ReputationManager
@@ -44,6 +41,18 @@ suite "Waku Incentivization PoC Reputation":
     )
     check evaluateResponse(invalidLightLightPushResponse) == BadResponse
 
+  test "incentivization PoC: reputation: evaluate LightPushResponse neutral - payment required":
+    let neutralLightPushResponse = LightPushResponse(
+      requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.PAYMENT_REQUIRED.uint32
+    )
+    check evaluateResponse(neutralLightPushResponse) == NeutralResponse
+
+  test "incentivization PoC: reputation: evaluate LightPushResponse bad - no peers":
+    let badLightPushResponse = LightPushResponse(
+      requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.NO_PEERS_TO_RELAY.uint32
+    )
+    check evaluateResponse(badLightPushResponse) == BadResponse
+
   test "incentivization PoC: reputation: updateReputationFromResponse valid":
     let validResp =
       LightPushResponse(requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.SUCCESS.uint32)
@@ -57,5 +66,46 @@ suite "Waku Incentivization PoC Reputation":
     manager.updateReputationFromResponse(peerId1, invalidResp)
     check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == some(false)
 
+  test "incentivization PoC: reputation: updateReputationFromResponse neutral - no change":
+    # First set a good reputation
+    manager.setReputation(peerId1, some(true))
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == some(true)
+    
+    # Send a neutral response (payment required)
+    let neutralResp = LightPushResponse(
+      requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.PAYMENT_REQUIRED.uint32
+    )
+    manager.updateReputationFromResponse(peerId1, neutralResp)
+    
+    # Reputation should remain unchanged
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == some(true)
+
+  test "incentivization PoC: reputation: updateReputationFromResponse neutral - no change from bad":
+    # First set a bad reputation
+    manager.setReputation(peerId1, some(false))
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == some(false)
+    
+    # Send a neutral response (payment required)
+    let neutralResp = LightPushResponse(
+      requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.PAYMENT_REQUIRED.uint32
+    )
+    manager.updateReputationFromResponse(peerId1, neutralResp)
+    
+    # Reputation should remain unchanged
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == some(false)
+
+  test "incentivization PoC: reputation: updateReputationFromResponse neutral - no change from none":
+    # Start with no reputation set
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == none(bool)
+    
+    # Send a neutral response (payment required)
+    let neutralResp = LightPushResponse(
+      requestId: "", statusCode: LightpushStatusCode.PAYMENT_REQUIRED.uint32
+    )
+    manager.updateReputationFromResponse(peerId1, neutralResp)
+    
+    # Reputation should remain none
+    check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == none(bool)
+
   test "incentivization PoC: reputation: default is None":
     check manager.getReputation(peerId1) == none(bool)
diff --git a/waku/incentivization/reputation_manager.nim b/waku/incentivization/reputation_manager.nim
index 2ddb16c92..582aa29bf 100644
--- a/waku/incentivization/reputation_manager.nim
+++ b/waku/incentivization/reputation_manager.nim
@@ -2,9 +2,17 @@ import tables, std/options, chronicles
 import ../waku_lightpush/[rpc, common]
 import libp2p/peerid
 
+const BadResponseStatusCodes* = [
+  LightpushStatusCode.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+  LightpushStatusCode.SERVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE,
+  LightpushStatusCode.OUT_OF_RLN_PROOF,
+  LightpushStatusCode.NO_PEERS_TO_RELAY
+]
+
 type
   ResponseQuality* = enum
     BadResponse
+    NeutralResponse
     GoodResponse
 
   # Encode reputation indicator as Option[bool]:
@@ -34,8 +42,10 @@ proc getReputation*(manager: ReputationManager, peer: PeerId): Option[bool] =
 proc evaluateResponse*(response: LightPushResponse): ResponseQuality =
   if response.statusCode == LightpushStatusCode.SUCCESS.uint32:
     return GoodResponse
-  else:
+  elif LightpushStatusCode(response.statusCode) in BadResponseStatusCodes:
     return BadResponse
+  else:
+    return NeutralResponse
 
 # Update reputation of the peer based on LightPushResponse quality
 proc updateReputationFromResponse*(
@@ -49,3 +59,6 @@ proc updateReputationFromResponse*(
   of GoodResponse:
     debug "Assign good reputation for peer", peer = peer
     manager.setReputation(peer, some(true)) # true  => GoodRep
+  of NeutralResponse:
+    debug "Neutral response - reputation unchanged for peer", peer = peer
+    # Don't change reputation for neutral responses