On May 15, 2025, the Pensions Dashboards Programme published its latest progress update report. It notes that April 30, 2025, marked the start of the DWP's staging period, during which pension schemes and providers should connect to the pensions dashboards ecosystem.
The update report highlights the following:
- Connection. Of the 20 volunteer participants (comprising providers and schemes, third-party administrators and integrated service providers), four have completed their connection and have since been adding further schemes and providers in line with the connection timetable. Of the remainder, nine have recently completed "integration testing" and are shortly due to connect while several others are close to this stage. Overall, the PDP is confident all pension providers and schemes in scope will be able to connect by the regulatory deadline of October 31, 2026.
- Standards. Finalised standards for schemes and providers were approved by the Secretary of State in March 2025, although they may need to be updated in future in the light of legal, regulatory or industry changes. In this event, the PDP will collaborate with the industry to consider appropriate timings for the implementation of amendments. Standards for private sector dashboard operators are being developed by the PDP and will be published separately.
- Consumer testing. The Money and Pensions Service will undertake consumer testing of the MoneyHelper dashboard in two phases. The first phase (running from summer 2025) will involve moderated testing where users will be invited to participate via workplace pension schemes and research panels. The second phase, starting in autumn 2025, will see individual members invited to participate by their providers or schemes.
- Private sector dashboards. The PDP is working closely with potential dashboard providers, the DWP and the regulators on the development and implementation of private sector dashboards. Several industry roundtables have been held with potential private sector operators and the PDP is considering the feedback.
