The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the Pensions Dashboards Programme will have a connection deadline of 31 October 2026.
This comes as months after the DWP said there would be a further delay to the programme.
Pension dashboards will allow individuals to view information about their pensions, including state pension, in one place online.
This will put savers in control and help reconnect them with their lost pension pots.
Connection deadline
Pensions secretary Laura Trott said on 8 June: “Pensions dashboards will transform the way in which people plan for retirement. On 2 March 2023, I announced that the Pensions Dashboards Programme would require additional time to deliver the connection of pension providers and schemes, in accordance with the connection deadlines set out in the Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022 and the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) corresponding pensions dashboard rules.
“More time is needed to deliver this complex build, and for the pensions industry to help facilitate the successful connection of a wide range of different IT systems to the dashboards digital architecture.
“As part of our reset of the Pensions Dashboard Programme, I am today laying amending regulations with a new approach to delivery that allows us to work more collaboratively with the pensions industry. Rather than setting out the entire staging timeline in legislation, we will instead set this out in guidance which we will collaborate on with industry this year. This will give the Pensions Dashboards Programme the flexibility it needs to ensure this complex project is completed effectively.
“In recognition that the requirement to connect to the digital architecture should remain mandatory, we will include a connection deadline in legislation of 31 October 2026. This is not the dashboards available point – the point at which dashboards will be accessible to the public – which could be earlier than this.
“The government remains as committed as ever to making pensions dashboards a reality and we are ambitious about their delivery. I am confident that this re-appraised approach will enable us to make significant progress on delivering dashboards safely and securely, enabling consumers to take advantage of their benefits to plan for retirement.”
Disappointment
Claire Trott, divisional director for retirement and holistic planning at St James’s Place, said: “Although it is disappointing that the dashboard is being yet again delayed it is more important that it is correct, not misleading and a real benefit to consumers. It would be worse to launch something that doesn’t provide any benefit, or only part of what is intended, this could mean that it fails to get engagement by those who most need this resource.”
Sam Buckle, executive sponsor of Phoenix Group’s pensions dashboard project, added: “We welcome the additional flexibility that today’s announcement introduces for all those supporting the introduction of the pensions dashboard.
“We believe focusing on having the majority of pensions on board is the priority, rather than the entire market. As an organisation we will continue to plan our dashboard programme in line with the guidance as soon as it is issued. This is an important initiative that will help pension savers. We are making good progress and are on track to meet our obligations.”
Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, said: “We welcome the pensions minister’s announcement that a final connection date will be 31 October 2026 and set out in legislation. This gives more time to ensure that the pension dashboard ecosystem works and is fully tested, giving schemes and members confidence. And gives more certainty that pension dashboards will happen.
“Previously connecting dates for pension providers and schemes were set out in legislation by scheme size and type. These will be removed. We look forward to seeing more details on how the staging dates set out in the guidance will work and be managed by the pension dashboard programme to ensure that scheme connection points are evenly spread to avoid the risk of being left until the last minute of 31 October 2026, which could easily lead to a capacity crunch and overwhelm the pension dashboard ecosystem.”
