Dashboards connection deadline: one year to go

As we approach the end of a year in which we've reached numerous milestones in our pensions dashboards journey, I'd like to highlight another significant marker. There is now just one year remaining until the final connection deadline of 31 October 2026, by which time all pension providers and schemes in scope of the legislation must have connected to the pensions dashboards ecosystem.

This is a moment to both celebrate our progress and renew our commitment to facilitating connection for every pension provider and scheme in scope. This is crucial to the success of dashboards, helping ensure the service is consistent, reliable and genuinely useful.

Celebrating progress

Since the first pension provider connected to the pensions dashboards ecosystem in April, we've built up great momentum. Over 700 pension providers and schemes have connected, and this figure continues to grow.

This equates to over 60 million pension records from workplace and personal pensions successfully connected, representing around three quarters of the total. The connection of the State Pension has added tens of millions more records to this number.

We've been working closely with our cohort of industry participants, the majority of whom are now connected, to track their progress and gather important insights. The lessons we've learned from their connection journeys have helped us refine the process, making it quicker and more straightforward for those yet to connect.

Testing of the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard is progressing well. We have successfully completed the first rounds of industry expert testing and have begun testing with a low volume of users. Reaching this point demonstrates that pensions dashboards are no longer a distant aspiration – they're really coming, and it's important we're all ready.

Keeping up momentum

With a year to go until the deadline, it's crucial we keep up the pace and continue to build on these strong foundations. Every organisation in scope needs to play its part in helping us reach full connection in 12 months' time. Based on the outstanding commitment and collaborative spirit I've observed in my time on the programme, I have every confidence this can be achieved.

Pension providers and schemes need to continue their preparations and make sure they have regard to their 'connect by' date in guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As well as ensuring compliance, this will help avoid unnecessary pressure and potential issues closer to the final deadline.

What pension providers and schemes need to do

The responsibility of carrying out dashboard duties, including connection, sits with the trustees and managers of pension providers and schemes. It is very important they read the legislation (the Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022 and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Rules) to understand what those duties are. As part of those duties, they must have regard to the connection timetable in the DWP guidance and ensure they are fully connected by the final deadline.

As part of their legislative duties, pension providers and schemes, or connection providers acting on their behalf, need to be compliant with standards, which are the rules and controls around connecting and remaining connected to the dashboards ecosystem. The latest versions are published on the PDP website.

Guidance and support

Preparing for pensions dashboards is a significant undertaking, but it's important to remember that, as I'm so fond of saying, this is a collective effort and no one needs to go it alone. Comprehensive support and resources are widely available to help navigate the connection journey.

Connection guidance is available on the PDP website, setting out the steps to connection and providing detailed information and helpful resources. We're also on hand to offer technical assistance and help with specific queries via support. In addition, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published pensions dashboards guidance for occupational pension schemes in scope.

Looking ahead to the next 12 months

As we enter the final year before the connection deadline, I'm excited about what we're creating together and determined to maintain the momentum we've built up. I've recently been able to test the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard and view my own live pensions information. This in itself feels momentous, but it's just the beginning. Pensions dashboards have the potential to change how millions of people engage with their retirement savings and help improve their financial wellbeing.

To all those across industry and delivery partners who've contributed to our progress so far, thank you for all you've done. Let's make this final year count and ensure that by 31 October 2026, every pension provider and scheme in scope is connected and ready to help deliver this vital new service to savers across the UK.