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 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 has been 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 connect in line with the timeline 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. Find further details on failing to comply with pensions dashboards duties.
Changing your connection plan
In exceptional circumstances, you may be unable to connect your scheme in line with your date in DWP’s guidance. If you are planning to connect your scheme more than 30 days before or after your ‘connect-by’ date, you need to discuss your intention with your connection provider in the first instance and you should have regard to MaPS’ change of connection plans process and guidance.
MaPS will notify us of your updated ‘connect-by’ date, which we will reflect in our communications to you.
You must be connected by the 31 October 2026.
Changes to scheme size
The deadline still applies 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 then have 100 or more relevant members on or 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
You should also have regard to the DWP guidance on connection, even if your scheme falls into scope on or after 1 April 2024.
Schemes which exist on or after 1 April 2024
If your scheme comes into existence on or after 1 April 2024, and you have 100 or more relevant members, 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
You should also have regard to the DWP guidance on connection, even if your scheme falls into scope on or after 1 April 2024.
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). Where you are unable to connect all sections at the same time, we expect you to consider whether you need to report this breach to us. Refer to our breach of law guidance for further details.
Schemes in Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment
Schemes that start 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 connection 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.
If your scheme has already connected, but then starts a PPF assessment, you should stay connected and be able to match your members. However, you do not need to return value data while the scheme is in assessment. Instead, use the appropriate flags in MaPS’ data standards, which provide an explanation to the member.
Voluntary connection for smaller schemes
Registrable occupational pension schemes with 99 or fewer relevant members are currently not in scope of the regulations (see section which schemes are in scope for more details), but they can apply to MaPS to connect on a voluntary basis. Once MaPS has granted permission to connect voluntarily, the scheme will need to connect by the date agreed with MaPS and comply with all the requirements that apply to schemes in scope.
Therefore, if you decide to connect voluntarily, you must ensure that your scheme is able to find members and send them data as soon as you are connected and remain connected. You can find more information in the your role and legal duties section, and the ongoing connection and record-keeping requirements section.
Trustees and scheme managers are responsible for the decision to connect on a voluntary basis as well as the scheme’s compliance, and you should be clear on these ongoing legal duties when making the decision.
Talk to your administrator or provider if you would like to connect voluntarily.
You will need to follow MaPS standards and guidance. Refer to the MaPS website, where further information and guidance on this process will be provided in due course.
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)
| 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 |
CDC schemes
| Number of active and deferred members | Connect by |
|---|---|
| All sizes | 30 September 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 |
Deferral applications
The window for applications to defer the connection deadline of 31 October 2026 has now closed.