What Is the Pensions Dashboard?
The Pensions Dashboard is one of the most significant developments in UK pension management in decades. For the first time, it will allow you to see all your pension savings — from every employer, every provider, and the State Pension — in a single online view.
With an estimated 20+ million lost pension pots in the UK, the Dashboard aims to reconnect people with their retirement savings and make pension planning clearer and simpler.
How the Pensions Dashboard Works
The Dashboard connects to pension providers and schemes across the UK to pull together your pension information:
- You log in and verify your identity (similar to Government Gateway)
- The Dashboard searches connected pension schemes using your details
- Matching pensions are displayed showing provider, value, and projected retirement income
- Your State Pension entitlement is also shown
Data is fetched in real-time from providers — it is not stored centrally. This means you always see up-to-date information.
What Information Will the Dashboard Show?
| Information | Available at Launch |
|---|---|
| Pension provider name | Yes |
| Type of pension (DC, DB, State) | Yes |
| Current value (DC pensions) | Yes |
| Projected retirement income | Yes (where available) |
| Accrued benefits (DB pensions) | Yes |
| State Pension forecast | Yes |
| Provider contact details | Yes |
| Transfer capability | No (view-only initially) |
| Investment fund details | Limited |
The Dashboard Timeline
The Pensions Dashboard Programme has progressed through several phases:
- Connection phase — pension schemes connect to the Dashboard infrastructure, starting with the largest schemes
- Testing and staging — connected schemes test data accuracy and matching
- Public launch — individuals gain access to view their pensions
- Ongoing development — additional features added over time
The exact public launch date has been adjusted several times as the programme ensures data quality and security standards are met.
What the Dashboard Means for You
Finding Lost Pensions
The most immediate benefit is automatic discovery of pensions you may have forgotten about. Instead of manually tracing each old employer, the Dashboard searches all connected schemes simultaneously.
Better Retirement Planning
Seeing all your pensions together — with projected values and income — makes planning much easier. You can quickly assess whether you are on track for the retirement you want.
Informed Decisions
With a complete picture of your pensions, you can make better decisions about contributions, consolidation, and retirement timing.
What the Dashboard Will NOT Do
- Move your money — it is view-only; you cannot transfer pensions through it
- Provide advice — it shows information but does not recommend actions
- Replace your pension provider — you still manage each pension separately
- Show non-pension savings — ISAs, savings accounts, and investments are not included
- Automatically consolidate — combining pensions is still a separate process
Privacy and Security
Security is a core design principle of the Dashboard:
- Strong identity verification required before access
- Data is not stored centrally — fetched directly from providers
- You control who can see your information
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and The Pensions Regulator
What Should You Do Now?
Do not wait for the Dashboard. If you think you have lost pension pots, use the free Pension Tracing Service today. When the Dashboard launches, having already consolidated your pensions will mean a cleaner, simpler view. In the meantime, a pension adviser can help you find and review all your existing pensions.