UK pensions dashboards: your pensions, all in one place

Keeping track of your pensions is about to get a lot easier. How? With the help of pensions dashboards - which will allow people to view information about their pension savings in one secure place online.

Not only will you be able to keep track of your pension pots, but you’ll also be able to find out if you have old, lost or forgotten pensions, and more.

In the UK alone, there are nearly 3.3 million lost pension pots, worth over £31.1 billion in assets¹. The pensions dashboards aim to help people feel more informed and in control of their financial future by showing where their pensions are held and how much they may be worth.

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has confirmed that the first public testing phase is now underway, giving a small number of people outside the pensions industry the opportunity to try out the service for the first time.

To help you prepare for these much-anticipated pensions dashboards and learn more, we’ve answered ten of the most common questions about them and how they could support your retirement planning.

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1. What are pensions dashboards?
   
   Pension dashboards are online services designed to show all your pensions in one place. This is expected to include workplace, personal and state pensions. The purpose is to help people better understand and manage their retirement savings with a clearer picture of their total pension value.
2. When will these pensions dashboards launch?
   
   Although the specific public launch date hasn’t been confirmed yet, the Pensions Dashboard Programme (PDP) has stated that it expects the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard to become available to the public in 2027/2028. The PDP has also said it will provide an update on the launch plans around 31 October 2026. Testing is currently underway with a small number of users to ensure it’s working as intended and is accessible.
3. Will pensions dashboards show all my pensions?
   
   The dashboards are meant to connect with most UK pension providers and schemes. If you’re already receiving payment from a pension, it will not appear on the dashboard. Additionally, some more complex pension types might take longer to appear.
   
   The dashboards are also expected to include your State Pension in addition to your private and workplace pensions.
4. Can pensions dashboards help me find lost pensions?
   
   Yes. One of the main goals of the dashboards is to help people find lost or forgotten pension pots by searching participating pension schemes. If you think you may have an old pension you’ve lost track of, you can also find further guidance here: How to trace old pensions.
5. Are pensions dashboards safe?
   
   Yes, the pension dashboards will be developed with strict security and data protection standards in mind. Private sector organisations offering pensions dashboards will need to be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and dashboard providers will need to meet relevant standards.
6. How do I find all my pensions in one place?
   
   Once the dashboards are available, users will be able to log in securely and provide details such as their name, date of birth, address, and National Insurance number. The dashboard will then search participating pension providers to locate any pensions linked to those details.
7. Can I combine pensions through pensions dashboards?
   
   The initial system will not allow for combining pensions. Over time, as private sector dashboards develop, additional features may be introduced. However, you should think carefully before transferring or combining pensions, as some pensions may have valuable benefits, guarantees, charges or other features that could be lost if you move them.
8. What information will pensions dashboards show?
   
   The dashboards are expected to show:
   
   • Where your pensions are held
   • The value of your pension savings
   • Estimated retirement income
   • State Pension information
   • Contact details for pension providers
   • Projected pension value at retirement date
    
9. Who can use pensions dashboards?
   
   Everyone with UK pension savings or a State Pension entitlement will have access to pensions dashboards when they become publicly available.
10. Why this matters to you?
    
    The intention of pensions dashboards is to improve retirement planning, pension awareness, and increase financial confidence. There are billions of pounds in lost pensions, so the hope is that people can locate any pensions that may have been lost over job changes, or years of work. The goal is that the dashboards will help people reconnect with these savings and make more informed retirement decisions.

Source:
¹ Pensions Policy Institute, Lost Pensions 2024, 09.2024

• Read: How much do you need for a 'comfortable' retirement?
• Read: What is a guaranteed lifetime annuity? The basics
• Read: Who can I leave my pension to?

Important information - investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. Withdrawals from a pension product will not be possible until you reach age 55 (57 from 2028). It’s important to understand that pension transfers are a complex area and may not be suitable for everyone. Before going ahead with a pension transfer, we strongly recommend that you undertake a full comparison of the benefits, charges and features offered. To find out what else you should consider before transferring, please read our transfer factsheet. If you are in any doubt whether or not a pension transfer is suitable for your circumstances we strongly recommend that you seek advice from one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice.