All schemes with 100 or more relevant members at the scheme year end between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 must connect to pensions dashboards.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out a staged timetable for schemes to connect to the dashboards digital architecture. Schemes are asked to connect over time according to their size and type.
You can also view the full timetable.
Deciding when to connect
All schemes in scope must be connected by 31 October 2026, at the latest.
The DWP has published guidance on connection: the staged timetable, aiming to reduce risks to delivery and help manage capacity in industry.
You must have regard to the DWP guidance and the separate onboarding process guidance that will be published by the Money and Pension Service (MaPS). This means you must read these and take them into account when making decisions around connection. We expect schemes to adhere to the dates set out in this guidance. Not following the guidance could expose you to greater risk of not being able to comply with your dashboards duties.
You will be expected to demonstrate how you’ve had regard to the guidance. You can find further details on failing to comply with pensions dashboards duties.
Changes to scheme size
The deadline will still apply if your scheme changes size, unless you fall out of scope of the requirements entirely, for example if all your members become pensioner members.
If you did not have 100 or more relevant members at scheme year end 2023 to 2024, but you do on and after 1 April 2024, you will be required to connect by the later of:
- six months after the end of the scheme year in which that threshold was reached
- 31 October 2026
Schemes with multiple sections
You have to connect the whole scheme at the same time. This includes schemes that have multiple sections or members with additional voluntary contributions (AVCs). You will need to work with your administrators and AVC providers to do this.
Deferring your deadline
You may be able to apply to the DWP for a one-off deferral to the 31 October 2026 deadline. The only grounds for deferral are if you have:
- embarked on a programme to transfer the data held by the pension scheme to a new administrator
- entered into a contract containing an obligation to retender the administration of the scheme, and the timetable for this is reasonable and conflicts with the connection deadline for the scheme
You will need to evidence this and demonstrate that it will be disproportionately burdensome or put the personal data of members at risk to connect by the deadline. The maximum deferral you can receive is 12 months.
You will need to do this as soon as possible, and in any event before 8 August 2024, to ensure your application can be considered in time.
The DWP has published deferral guidance to help trustees and managers understand the application process.
Schemes in Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment
Schemes that enter PPF assessment before the connection deadline are not required to connect by the deadline. If the scheme exits PPF assessment but does not enter the PPF, it will need to connect by the later of:
- the deadline
- six months from the end of the assessment period
This only applies where the whole scheme is in PPF assessment. If only a section of your scheme is in assessment, your connection duties still apply.
Voluntary connection for smaller schemes
Schemes with 99 or fewer relevant members are not in scope of the regulations but they may be included in future legislation. They can apply to connect on a voluntary basis.
If you choose to connect voluntarily, you must be able to find members and send them data as soon as you are connected and meet the requirements that apply to schemes in scope. You will need to follow MaPS standards and guidance . Talk to your administrator or provider if you would like to connect voluntarily.
Staged timetable in full
Schemes with 1,000 or more relevant members
Master trusts
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| 20,000 or more | 30 April 2025 |
| 5,000 to 19,999 | 31 May 2025 |
| 1,000 to 4,999 | 30 June 2025 |
Defined contribution (DC) schemes used for automatic enrolment
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| 5,000 or more | 31 May 2025 |
| 1,000 to 4,999 | 30 June 2025 |
Defined benefit schemes, all other DC schemes, all hybrid schemes (including hybrid master trusts) and CDC schemes
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| 20,000 or more | 31 May 2025 |
| 5,000 to 19,999 | 30 June 2025 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | 31 August 2025 |
| 1,500 to 2,499 | 30 September 2025 |
| 1,000 to 1,499 | 30 November 2025 |
Public service schemes
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| All sizes | 31 October 2025 |
Schemes for members of the UK or Welsh Parliaments
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| 1,000 or more | 31 October 2025 |
Schemes with 100 to 999 relevant members
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| 750 to 999 | 31 January 2026 |
| 600 to 749 | 28 February 2026 |
| 400 to 599 | 31 March 2026 |
| 320 to 399 | 30 April 2026 |
| 250 to 319 | 31 May 2026 |
| 195 to 249 | 30 June 2026 |
| 155 to 194 | 31 July 2026 |
| 125 to 154 |
31 August 2026 |
| 100 to 124 | 30 September 2026 |