The pensions dashboard has been "coming soon" for years. With a big legal deadline on 31 October 2026, many savers are asking whether this is finally it: can I see all my pensions in one place yet?
Not quite. This update explains what the October deadline means, what has been connected so far, and the latest official word on the pensions dashboard launch date.
It also shows how to find lost pensions today, without waiting.
What is the pensions dashboard?
A pensions dashboard is an online service that shows all your pensions in one place, including your State Pension. You log in once, and it asks every connected scheme whether it holds a pension for you.
The government-backed version is the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard, run by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). It will be free. Other firms may offer their own dashboards later, connected to the same system.
For anyone with a string of old jobs, it is the pension tracker people have wanted for a decade.
Is 31 October 2026 the pensions dashboard launch date?
No. This is the most common mix-up.
31 October 2026 is the legal deadline for pension schemes to connect to the dashboards system. It is about the plumbing behind the scenes. The Pensions Regulator's connection guidance sets out staged dates, with larger schemes connecting first.
The date the public can log in is separate. The official line, reported in July 2026, is that the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard is expected to open in 2027/28, with an update on launch plans around the October deadline.
How far has the connection got?
Further than many expected. In a progress update in July 2026, MaPS said:
| Measure | Position in July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Private pension records connected | more than 70 million |
| Share of workplace and personal pension records | about 85% |
| State Pension records connected | tens of millions |
| Consumer testing | phase one done, phase two under way with about 2,000 panel members |
| Legal connection deadline | 31 October 2026 |
| Expected public launch | 2027/28 |
Source: Money and Pensions Service progress update, reported by Pensions Age, July 2026.
"By bringing together a person's pensions information in one online and secure place, the dashboard will be a vital part of improving retirement outcomes for so many people across the UK."
Oliver Morley, Chief Executive, Money and Pensions Service, July 2026
Pensions dashboard launch date: the timeline so far
- 2012: workplace auto-enrolment begins, and lost pots start to multiply.
- March 2024: the government publishes staged connection dates, largest schemes first.
- July 2026: about 85% of workplace and personal pension records connected.
- 31 October 2026: legal deadline for schemes to connect.
- 2027/28: expected opening of the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard to the public.
Schemes that miss the October deadline can face action from The Pensions Regulator or the FCA. MaPS has said it will update its launch plans around that date, and we will update this page when it does.
Why the pensions dashboard launch date matters to you
If you have moved jobs a few times, you probably have pensions you have forgotten. Workplace auto-enrolment, which began in 2012, means almost everyone who changed jobs since then has left a pot behind.
A working dashboard would find them for you. Until it opens, you have to do the legwork yourself. The good news: it is not hard, and it is free.
How to find old pensions before the dashboard opens
You do not need to wait for the pensions dashboard launch date. Here is the short route:
- List your past employers, with rough dates.
- Search your paperwork and email for provider names and policy numbers.
- Use the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK to get contact details for each scheme. It cannot tell you whether you have a pension or its value, but it gets you to the right door.
- Write to each provider with your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and old addresses.
Our full guide on how to find old pension pots walks through each step, and the questions to ask each provider.
Check your State Pension forecast too
The State Pension is often the biggest single pension you will get. You can check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK in a few minutes. It shows how much you may get, when, and whether you can fill gaps in your National Insurance record.
Your pension forecast from each workplace scheme arrives on its annual statement. Put them side by side with your State Pension forecast and you have most of the picture.
What will the dashboard not do?
Even when it opens, a dashboard is a window, not a plan. Based on what has been announced, it is designed to show you what you have. It will not:
- tell you whether you are on track for the retirement you want
- model tax on withdrawals or inheritance tax on your pensions
- include your ISAs, savings or property
- tell you what to do next
That is the gap between knowing what you have and knowing what it means.
Common mistakes while you wait
- Paying a firm to trace pensions. Most use the same free government service.
- Falling for "dashboard" scams. No legitimate dashboard will cold-call you or ask for your bank login.
- Waiting for the dashboard before doing anything. The public launch is not expected until 2027/28.
- Ignoring small pots. A few thousand pounds left invested for 20 years can grow into a useful sum.
Turn your pensions into a plan
Once you have found your pensions, add them up with everything else. Our net worth calculator totals pensions, savings and property, and our pension calculator shows the income they could pay. For the bigger question, see how much you need to retire.
Plenence already does what the dashboard will not: upload your statements, confirm the figures, and get one plan with a retirement projection and estate estimate. We will update this post when MaPS publishes a confirmed public pensions dashboard launch date.