Connecting to the pensions dashboards ecosystem via a third party

We are fast approaching a pivotal moment for the Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) – the point at which the first cohort of pension providers and schemes will connect to the pensions dashboards ecosystem.

Most pension providers and schemes will connect via a third-party connection provider, such as their third-party administrator or an integrated service provider (ISP), rather than directly. Below is an overview of what this process involves.

When to connect by

All pension providers and schemes in scope should be preparing to connect in line with their ‘connect by’ date in guidance published by the Department for Work and Pensions. This staged timetable sets out when different cohorts of pension providers and schemes, based on type and size, should connect. While the ‘connect by’ dates are not mandatory, pension providers and schemes must have regard to the guidance.

Pension providers and schemes must make arrangements to connect by the legislative deadline of 31 October 2026, having had regard to the dates in guidance. However, if they have appointed a connection provider working with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) which is unable to connect them by their ‘connect by’ date, they can be reassured that they don’t need to reconsider their route to connection. The regulators will be taking a pragmatic approach to pension providers and schemes meeting their obligations and will take into account circumstances beyond their control.

Confirming your connection date

Each pension provider or scheme’s connection date should be agreed with their connection provider. The connection provider will then submit this date in the PDP connection portal. We recommend that you choose a working day for connection, and not a Saturday, Sunday or a bank holiday.

If your chosen connection date is more than 30 days earlier or later than your ‘connect by’ date in guidance, you can notify PDP and the relevant regulator of change in connection plans.

Registration codes

As part of the connection process, pension providers and schemes must register with MaPS. The registration process can be completed entirely by a third-party connection provider on behalf of the pension provider or scheme, using registration codes supplied by the pension provider or scheme’s regulator.

Registration codes are unique codes that each pension provider or scheme needs to register their connection to the ecosystem. Pension providers and schemes will be given their registration codes by their regulator. Once they have received their codes, pension providers and schemes will need to give them to their connection provider, who will submit them on the PDP connection portal.

A unique code is used to register each connection. If a pension scheme is connecting to the ecosystem via more than one connection provider, for instance if the scheme has multiple sections which sit with different administrators with different connection routes, they need a unique registration code for each connection. However, if both administrators use the same connection provider independently of each other, the connection provider will use one registration code.

Our guidance contains regulator-specific instructions for obtaining registration codes. It is important to note that the process is different for The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and that in both cases, the registration codes expire after a certain period.

Completing connection

PDP will connect the pension provider or scheme on their agreed and approved connection date. The PDP connection portal will display whether a connection is active. Pension providers and schemes can liaise with their connection provider on how to get confirmation of this.

It is important for pension providers and schemes to note that once the connection is active, this is the point at which their legal duties for dashboards begin. The dashboards rules and regulations can be found via the following links: The Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022 | FCA rules for pension providers

Help and support

For more details on the process of connecting via a third party, pension providers and schemes are advised to read the PDP guidance on connecting via a third party. You can also contact us directly via support.