Schemes should receive a minimum of six months’ notice of their dashboards staging connection date, and “possibly as much as 12 months”, according to Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) principal, Chris Curry.

Speaking at the Pensions Age Autumn Conference, Curry pointed out that while “it is difficult to put a precise number on [the staging connection notice period], we are certainly aiming for at least six months, possibly as much as 12 that we would like to give the first connectors”.

“Our aim is to give as notice as possible but until we can give that certainty we will just keep giving as many updates as we can,” he added.

The Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP), regulators and industry were originally working to a timeline set out in regulations by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Financial Conduct Authority rules. The new regulations changed this timeline.

Pension providers and schemes now have a connection deadline of 31 October 2026, the latest date by which they will need to have connected to the dashboards central digital architecture (CDA).

However, speaking to Pensions Age in July, Curry pointed out that this is not the date that industry will be working towards.

“Instead, guidance will be produced that will set staging dates for different types and sizes of pension providers and schemes. DWP still expects you to connect in line with these dates and you must demonstrate how you have had regard to the guidance,” he explained.

“Having a timeline in guidance creates the flexibility for schemes to work with the government and regulators if they experience exceptional difficulties,” Curry added.

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