Connect voluntarily

Pensions dashboards will bring together information on a user’s multiple pensions, including their State Pension. This supports individuals’ engagement with their pensions and their retirement planning.

Eligible occupational pension schemes that are out of scope of the compulsory legislative framework may voluntarily connect, allowing their members to find their pensions via pensions dashboards.

Purpose and application

This guidance is issued by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) under the Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022 and the The Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023.

It applies to the trustees of occupational pension schemes (schemes) that are eligible to voluntarily connect to the Money and Pensions Service’s (MaPS) central digital architecture and thereby join the pensions dashboards ecosystem under Regulation 16.

Schemes applying to connect voluntarily are required by the legislation to have regard to this guidance.

Schemes wishing to connect voluntarily should consult The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) guidance on connecting to dashboards.

A scheme may only apply for voluntary connection if all of the following apply:

• the scheme has at least one but fewer than 100 active, deferred or pension credit members
• the scheme has at least 2 members in total (in any category of membership)
• the scheme is a registered pension scheme for tax purposes
• the scheme has its main place of administration in the United Kingdom

MaPS welcomes voluntary connections as it extends dashboard coverage and the benefits of dashboards to more savers.

MaPS will start from the position of expecting to grant permission for voluntary connection. We would generally expect to reject only in limited circumstances. For example, where MaPS lacks operational capacity or where, through consultation with TPR, it is determined that there is an undue risk that legislative and regulatory requirements will not be met post-connection. MaPS will always prioritise in-scope schemes.

MaPS will always consult with TPR before making a decision on an application. TPR is able to check whether there are any issues with the application or the applicant.

TPR will be able to share any further scheme data that we do not hold and that we need to process the application and/or the scheme’s connection.

When MaPS grants permission to connect voluntarily, the applying scheme is brought into the pensions dashboards legislative framework and parts 3 and 4 of the Regulations will then apply.

There are 2 routes to connect to the ecosystem.

1. Direct connection: This is a considerable undertaking involving extensive development and testing in collaboration with MaPS. Applications to connect directly will be considered against the support we are providing to schemes that must connect by 31 October 2026. See our guidance on direct connection.
2. Connection via a third party: If connecting via an already-connected third-party connection provider, the connection journey is simpler and MaPS operational capacity is less likely to be an issue. See our guidance on connection via a third party.

Direct connection

If you are considering direct connection, see our guidance on direct connection to see what is involved.

You will be able to complete a form to receive permission from MaPS before you can start your connection journey.

Connection via a third party

Applicants will use a form to apply to connect voluntarily via a third-party connection provider.

Applying for multiple schemes

Third-party connection providers may apply on behalf of multiple schemes, submitting bulk applications. However, each scheme’s application will be treated as distinct. It is possible that some of the schemes included in a bulk application are granted permission while another is not.

Authorisation

If the application is made by the third-party connection provider, the applicant must confirm that they have the authority from the scheme trustees to apply and connect the scheme.

All applications must be approved by the trustees, even if they are made by a third party on their behalf. Connection will not be able to progress without the regulator-issued registration code being provided to MaPS by the connecting party.

MaPS and TPR aim to process applications quickly, but response times will depend on capacity and volumes of requests. MaPS will always prioritise schemes in scope of the Regulations. We will communicate expected response times to applicants.

MaPS will set an appropriate connection deadline in collaboration with the applicant. This becomes the agreed deadline referred to in Regulation 16. The scheme must then connect on or before this date.

The agreed deadline is not the exact date on which the scheme will be connected. It is the latest date for connection to occur. The agreed deadline will never be earlier than 31 October 2026.

When MaPS grants permission for a scheme to connect voluntarily, MaPS will update its records for the scheme and notify TPR of the decision. The scheme does not need to notify TPR separately.

MaPS may contact the scheme for more information before making a decision.

Following MaPS granting permission for voluntary connection, the scheme will need to connect (or be connected by its third-party connection provider) via the PDP connection portal.

The scheme will connect following its chosen connection route:

• How to connect directly
• Connect via a third party

For both routes, the scheme (or third party) will need to request a specific connection date when they are ready to connect. This date must be earlier than the agreed connection deadline. Once approved by MaPS, this connection date is the date on which the scheme will be connected.

For direct connection, this is done during service acceptance.

For connection via third party, this is done by the third-party connection provider by adding pension providers and schemes.

Each scheme connection requires a TPR-issued registration code, provided to the trustees. Read TPR’s guidance on registration.

On the agreed and approved connection date, PDP will connect the scheme to the live environment.

PDP shows when the connection is active via the connection portal. Schemes can liaise with their connection provider on how to get confirmation of this.

Once connected to the central digital architecture, all the dashboard legal duties apply to the scheme from this date, including the duty to use every endeavour to ensure that it remains connected at all times.

If for any reason connection to the live environment has not been successful, PDP will liaise with the connection provider or scheme to agree a new connection date.