What Is the Pensions Dashboard?
The Pensions Dashboard is one of the most ambitious digital projects in UK retirement planning. Once fully live, it will allow every individual in the UK to see all their pensions — workplace pensions, personal pensions, SIPPs, and the State Pension — through a single, secure online portal.
The idea is simple: instead of contacting every provider individually, you log in once and see everything. For the estimated 20–25 million lost or forgotten pension pots in the UK, this could be transformative. Many people have changed jobs multiple times, leaving small pots scattered across different providers. The Dashboard aims to reconnect them with that money.
When Does the Pensions Dashboard Launch?
The Pensions Dashboard Programme (PDP) has progressed through several phases since the Pension Schemes Act 2021 made connection mandatory for all UK pension schemes. Here is the latest timeline:
- 2023–2024: Large pension schemes (1,000+ members) began connecting to the Dashboard infrastructure
- 2024–2025: Medium-sized schemes joined the connection programme
- 2025–2026: Small and micro schemes connect; testing and data quality checks intensify
- Late 2026: Public launch expected, subject to satisfactory testing results
The original target of a 2023 public launch was pushed back after the government prioritised data accuracy over speed. This was a sensible decision — a Dashboard showing incomplete or incorrect pension data would erode trust and defeat the purpose.
How the Pensions Dashboard Works
The technical architecture behind the Dashboard is designed with security and privacy at its core:
- Identity verification: You log in using a secure digital identity service (similar to Government Gateway or GOV.UK Verify)
- Search request: The Dashboard sends a search request to all connected pension schemes using your name, date of birth, and National Insurance number
- Matching: Each scheme checks whether they hold a pension matching your details
- Display: Matched pensions are shown with provider name, pension type, current value, and projected retirement income
Critically, your pension data is not stored centrally. Each time you log in, the Dashboard fetches fresh data directly from each provider. This means information is always current and there is no central database to hack.
What Will the Dashboard Show?
| Information | Available at Launch | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Provider name | Yes | Name and contact details |
| Pension type | Yes | DC, DB, State Pension |
| Current value (DC) | Yes | Latest fund value |
| Accrued benefits (DB) | Yes | Annual pension amount |
| State Pension forecast | Yes | Linked to DWP data |
| Projected retirement income | Partial | Where schemes provide it |
| Investment fund details | Limited | Fund names, not full breakdown |
| Transfer capability | No | View-only at launch |
Which Pension Schemes Must Connect?
The Pension Schemes Act 2021 gives The Pensions Regulator (TPR) the power to compel all UK pension schemes to connect. This includes:
- Workplace defined contribution (DC) schemes
- Workplace defined benefit (DB) schemes
- Personal pensions and SIPPs
- Master trusts (e.g., NEST, The People’s Pension, NOW: Pensions)
- The State Pension (via DWP)
Schemes that fail to connect face enforcement action from TPR, including fines. The staged approach means larger schemes connect first, with smaller schemes following over time.
Connection Deadlines
TPR has set connection deadlines based on scheme size. Large schemes (1,000+ members) were first. Medium schemes (100–999 members) followed. Small and micro schemes have the latest deadlines, extending into 2026. AVC-only arrangements and some niche scheme types have specific rules.
How to Prepare for the Dashboard
While you wait for the public launch, there are practical steps you can take now:
- Gather your pension paperwork: Collect annual statements, provider letters, and any transfer documentation you have
- Update your contact details: Make sure every pension provider has your current address, email, and phone number. The Dashboard can only find pensions if your details match.
- Check your National Insurance record: Log into your Government Gateway account to review your NI contributions and State Pension forecast
- Use the Pension Tracing Service: If you know you have lost pensions, do not wait — the free government tracing service can help now
- Consider consolidation: If you have multiple small pots, consolidating your pensions now means a cleaner Dashboard view later
What the Dashboard Will NOT Do
It is important to understand the Dashboard’s limitations:
- No transfers: You cannot move pensions through the Dashboard. Transfers must still be arranged directly with providers or via a pension transfer service
- No advice: The Dashboard shows data but does not tell you what to do with it. For guidance, you need pension advice
- No non-pension savings: ISAs, property, savings accounts, and other investments are not included
- No automatic consolidation: Seeing your pensions together does not combine them — that remains a separate process
Privacy and Security
Security has been the primary reason for the Dashboard’s delayed launch. The PDP has implemented multiple layers of protection:
- Strong identity verification before any data is shown
- No central data storage — information is fetched live from each provider
- Encrypted connections between the Dashboard and pension schemes
- Regulatory oversight from both the FCA and The Pensions Regulator
- User consent required before any data is displayed
Third-Party Dashboards
The government’s MaPS Dashboard will not be the only option. The legislation allows FCA-regulated firms to create their own “qualifying pensions dashboard services” — essentially third-party apps that connect to the same infrastructure.
This means pension providers, banks, and financial planning apps could offer their own Dashboard interfaces. The underlying data will be the same, but the presentation and additional features may vary. For example, a provider might integrate Dashboard data with their own planning tools.
What Should You Do Now?
Do not wait for the Dashboard to take action on your pensions. If you suspect you have lost pension pots, use the government’s free Pension Tracing Service today. If you have multiple pensions and are unsure whether to consolidate, speak to an FCA-regulated adviser who can review your full pension picture and recommend the best approach.
The Dashboard will be a valuable tool when it arrives, but it is not a substitute for professional advice — especially if you are approaching retirement or have complex pension arrangements.