Pension Dashboards: What They Are, When They Arrive, and How to Prepare

There are an estimated 2.8 million "lost" pension pots in the UK — funds that have been separated from their owners through job changes, address moves, and scheme mergers. There are also millions of pension savers who have never consolidated a full picture of their pension entitlements from multiple employers, personal pensions, and the State Pension.

The Pension Dashboards Programme is the government's initiative to change this. When fully operational, pension dashboards will allow any UK pension saver to log in to a single digital service, connect to the State Pension record, and see a consolidated view of all their qualifying pension arrangements — in one place, in real time.

The programme has had a troubled history of delays. This guide explains where it stands, what it will eventually provide, and — most importantly — what you can do now to ensure your pension records are ready when dashboards become available.

What Is the Pension Dashboards Programme?

The Pension Dashboards Programme (PDP) is administered by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) under powers contained in the Pension Schemes Act 2021. The programme creates the shared digital infrastructure through which:

• Pension savers can request information about their pension entitlements.
• Pension schemes and providers are required to respond to "find" requests and share data with authorised dashboards.
• The State Pension data from DWP is made available through the same system.

Multiple "dashboard providers" are expected to emerge — including financial services firms, comparison platforms, and potentially bank apps — all connecting to the shared MaPS infrastructure. The Money and Pensions Service itself will operate a non-commercial "MoneyHelper" dashboard for those who do not use a commercial provider.

The dashboard will show pension values or projections, not (initially) detailed transaction history or contribution information. It will be a "find and view" service — not a "manage" service. Members will not be able to transfer pensions or change investments through the dashboard; they will simply be able to see what they have and who holds it.

The State of the Programme in 2026

The programme was originally scheduled to go live in 2023. It has been subject to repeated delays, driven by the complexity of requiring thousands of pension schemes — from large master trusts to small occupational schemes with a handful of members — to connect to the same digital infrastructure and provide data in a standardised format.

As of 2026, the largest pension providers and master trusts have connected to the ecosystem, but significant portions of the market remain in connection backlogs. The "connection deadline" for schemes has been extended multiple times.

Commercial dashboard services have not yet launched to the public. The MoneyHelper dashboard has been in a limited testing phase.

The staging deadlines require schemes to connect in phases, based on scheme type and size. Workplace pension providers with more than 1,000 members were required to connect first; smaller occupational schemes and older insurance-based personal pension contracts are connecting last.

Practically, this means the complete view — all schemes, including small and historic ones — will not be available from day one. Early users of the dashboard will see an incomplete picture: their recent workplace pensions will appear, but their mid-1990s personal pension with a now-merged insurance company may not appear for some time.

What Information Will the Dashboard Show?

The dashboard will display, for each connected pension scheme:

• The member's name and basic identification details (used to confirm the match).
• For defined contribution schemes: the current fund value (or a projected value at a specified retirement age).
• For defined benefit schemes: the projected pension income at the scheme's normal retirement age.
• The State Pension projected amount (from DWP).
• The name and contact details of the scheme or provider.

Initially, projected values will be shown at a single retirement age (likely age 65 or 67). Over time, the functionality may expand to allow the user to model different retirement ages or contribution levels.

What the dashboard will NOT show, at least initially:

• Detailed investment breakdowns within the pension.
• Contribution history.
• Tax-free cash entitlement.
• Transfer values (CETVs for DB schemes).
• Detailed benefit options.

For HNW individuals or those with complex pension arrangements, the dashboard will be a useful "finder" and summary tool — but detailed planning will still require working directly with the scheme or provider, and with a regulated financial adviser.

Implications for International and Expatriate Members

Expatriates and internationally mobile individuals face particular challenges with pension dashboards:

Identity verification. Accessing a pension dashboard will require digital identity verification, likely through GOV.UK One Login or a similar service. UK expatriates without a current UK address or UK-issued identity documents may find the verification process difficult initially.

Overseas pension schemes. The dashboard only covers UK registered pension schemes. QROPS (Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes) and overseas pension arrangements will not appear. A member who transferred their UK pension to a QROPS ten years ago will not see that arrangement on the dashboard.

State Pension for non-UK residents. The State Pension forecast will appear, but its interaction with overseas state pension entitlements and frozen pension rules is not reflected in the dashboard. The dashboard is a finder, not a financial planning tool.

Data connection by former employers. An expat's former UK employer pension may be held by a scheme administrator who has limited contact information for overseas members. Ensuring the scheme has current contact details — including an overseas address and email — improves the likelihood of correct matching when dashboards go live.

How to Prepare Now

The pension dashboard is not yet live for the general public as of mid-2026. But steps you can take now will improve the dashboard's effectiveness when it is:

Update your contact details with all pension providers. Schemes will match dashboard requests against their member records. An outdated address or an old email address means a potential mismatch. Contact every pension scheme and provider you are aware of and update your records.

Locate and register any lost pensions now. The Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details) can help locate pensions from former employers. Registering with the scheme and confirming your membership status means the scheme has current information ready for dashboard integration.

Obtain your State Pension forecast. Your forecast is available through the Government Gateway at gov.uk/check-state-pension. This shows your projected new State Pension and any contracting-out deductions. The dashboard will show the same data, but checking it now gives you a baseline and highlights any gaps in your NI record that you may want to address.

Consolidate where it makes sense. The dashboard will make the case for consolidating multiple small pots more visible — once savers can see a fragmented picture, they tend to simplify it. If you have multiple small DC pots that carry no valuable guarantees, consolidating into a single SIPP or master trust may simplify management. Do not consolidate without checking for guaranteed annuity rates or other valuable protections.

Ensure expressions of wishes are current on all schemes. The dashboard will help you find schemes — but it will not tell you whether your nomination forms are up to date. Use the dashboard's arrival as a prompt to review beneficiary nominations across all arrangements.

Privacy and Security

Pension dashboards will involve sharing personal data between DWP, pension schemes, the MaPS infrastructure, and dashboard providers. The PDP has developed a privacy framework and data sharing standards, but members should:

• Only access dashboards through regulated, authorised services (look for FCA authorisation and PDP connection confirmation).
• Be alert to phishing or scam services that mimic pension dashboard services — "pension dashboard" as a concept will inevitably attract fraudulent copycat sites.
• Not provide additional personal or financial information beyond what is required for identity verification.

This guide provides general information only. The Pension Dashboards Programme is live and evolving; specific functionality, timeline, and provider availability may differ from what is described here. Check the MoneyHelper website (moneyhelper.org.uk) for the latest programme updates.

How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments helps clients build a complete picture of their pension entitlements — particularly those with multiple schemes, historic policies, or overseas arrangements that pension dashboards will not immediately cover. Our advisers identify missing or lost pensions, model consolidated retirement income projections, and ensure that all schemes are correctly registered and up to date ahead of the dashboards going live.

If you want a comprehensive review of all your pension arrangements before the dashboard era arrives, contact our advisory team to arrange a consultation.