Pensions dashboards connection deadline: your questions answered

There are now just 6 months until the final connection deadline for pensions dashboards – 31 October 2026.

By this date, all pension providers and schemes in scope of the legislation must have completed connection to the pensions dashboards ecosystem and be compliant with all the requirements set out in law.

As the deadline approaches, it is important we continue working together to reach full connection across the industry. Connection is not only a legal requirement, it is also critical to the success of dashboards. If all pension providers and schemes in scope connect in line with guidance, over 99% of pension records will be findable and viewable through dashboards. This will build people’s confidence in the service and deliver a better user experience.

If you are preparing to connect, or are already connected and managing ongoing duties, our connection hub remains the best place to find guidance and support.

Progress across the industry

Since the first pension provider successfully connected to the pensions dashboards ecosystem in March 2025, connection activity has continued to build momentum. Currently, over 1,000 pension providers and schemes have connected.

Over 60 million pension records from workplace and personal pensions are connected to the ecosystem, representing around three quarters of the total records in scope. The State Pension is also connected, adding tens of millions more records and further strengthening coverage.

Who needs to connect

All pension providers and schemes that fall within scope of the pensions dashboards legislation must have completed connection to the dashboards ecosystem by 31 October 2026. This requirement is set out in:

• the Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022
• the Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023
• and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Rules.

This includes all personal pension providers subject to the FCA rules and occupational pension schemes with 100 or more relevant members.

Understanding your dashboards duties

Trustees and scheme managers are responsible for understanding and carrying out their pensions dashboards duties as detailed in legislation. They include obligations around preparing and maintaining data for dashboards, which we discuss in more detail in our data preparation blog.

Where trustees or scheme managers need additional clarification, they should speak to their regulator or seek legal advice. The Pensions Regulator has also published guidance for trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes that are in scope for pensions dashboards.

When to connect

Pension providers and schemes must have completed connection by 31 October 2026 and must have regard to the connection timetable in guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

This timetable sets expectations for when different types and sizes of providers and schemes should connect. As well as ensuring compliance, adhering to this timetable helps avoid unnecessary pressure and potential issues closer to the final deadline.

How to connect

Detailed guidance on connecting to the pensions dashboards ecosystem is available through our connection hub, whether providers and schemes are connecting directly or via a third party.

Most pension providers and schemes are connecting via a third‑party connection provider, such as an integrated service provider (ISP) or a third‑party administrator. Our guidance sets out the step‑by‑step connection journey for organisations using this route.

If you have not yet considered your route to connection, it is important to be aware that connecting directly is a complicated process which may well take longer than 6 months, based on the experience of other organisations. Considering there are only 6 months remaining until the final connection deadline, direct connection is unlikely to be a viable option for pension providers and schemes that have yet to connect.

Changing your connection date

While the time remaining to connect is increasingly limited, it is still important that connection is properly planned and managed. If a pension provider or scheme plans to connect more than 30 days before or after their ‘connect by’ date set out in guidance, they can notify PDP and the relevant regulator of a change to their connection plans. This process applies to providers and schemes that have not yet been added to the connection portal.

Our changing your connection date video provides an overview of the process, whether you are connecting directly or through a third‑party provider. Further detail is also available in our guidance on changing connection plans.

The final step to connection

The final step of the connection process depends on whether providers and schemes have built a direct connection or connecting via a third‑party provider, which is the route most providers and schemes take.

In this connection process video, we explain the final step of the process for both connection routes.

Voluntary connection for schemes out of scope

Some very small occupational pension schemes that are not legally required to connect to pensions dashboards may still choose to do so on a voluntary basis.

The voluntary connection application process is currently in development and will be updated following consultation with industry. The timing of when the application process opens will be informed by industry engagement.

More information on what voluntary connection involves, who may apply and the potential benefits for schemes and members can be found in our blog on connecting voluntarily.

Maintaining your connection

Connection is not the end of the journey. Trustees and scheme managers must continue to meet their pensions dashboards duties after connection, including maintaining connectivity and ensuring their data remains accurate and complete.

Improving the quality of member data will help deliver a better user experience. Further detail is set out in our data preparation blog, and responsibilities for managing connection are listed in the connection hub under ‘Manage connection’.

Support and guidance

Guidance and resources are available through our connection hub, and occupational pension schemes should also refer to The Pensions Regulator’s dashboards guidance.

If you are a pension provider or scheme that is due to connect and you have questions or need assistance, please contact us as early as possible via our support service, where you can also find a range of helpful articles and information.

Looking ahead

With 6 months remaining until the final deadline, now is the time to review your plans, confirm your approach and take any remaining steps needed to complete connection ahead of 31 October 2026.