diff --git a/backend/auth/auth_bearer.py b/backend/auth/auth_bearer.py
index c5034f7f1..4f0c9d5bd 100644
--- a/backend/auth/auth_bearer.py
+++ b/backend/auth/auth_bearer.py
@@ -56,5 +56,5 @@ class AuthBearer(HTTPBearer):
         )  # replace with test user information
 
 
-def get_current_user(user: dict = Depends(AuthBearer())) -> User:
+def get_current_user(user: User = Depends(AuthBearer())) -> User:
     return user
diff --git a/backend/auth/jwt_token_handler.py b/backend/auth/jwt_token_handler.py
index 6975c7893..43b287500 100644
--- a/backend/auth/jwt_token_handler.py
+++ b/backend/auth/jwt_token_handler.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 from jose import jwt
 from jose.exceptions import JWTError
+from models.users import User
 
 SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get("JWT_SECRET_KEY")
 ALGORITHM = "HS256"
@@ -20,23 +21,17 @@ def create_access_token(data: dict, expires_delta: Optional[timedelta] = None):
     return encoded_jwt
 
 
-def decode_access_token(token: str):
+def decode_access_token(token: str) -> User:
     try:
         payload = jwt.decode(
             token, SECRET_KEY, algorithms=[ALGORITHM], options={"verify_aud": False}
         )
-        return payload
     except JWTError:
         return None
 
+    return User(email=payload.get("email"), id=payload.get("sub"))
+
 
 def verify_token(token: str):
     payload = decode_access_token(token)
     return payload is not None
-
-
-def get_user_email_from_token(token: str):
-    payload = decode_access_token(token)
-    if payload:
-        return payload.get("email")
-    return "none"