With the statutory connection deadline of 31 October 2026 just over a year away, the pensions industry has been a hive of activity when it comes to all things dashboards.

One key piece of the puzzle has been consumer testing. While the date from which the general public will be able to access dashboards (the “Dashboards Available Point” or “DAP”) has not yet been confirmed, the Pensions Dashboards Programme (“PDP”) is busy gathering insight into how dashboards will sit with users. The aim is for the feedback gathered to both improve the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard (referred to below as the “Dashboard”) and support other dashboard providers in due course.

What is consumer testing?

As the name might suggest, consumer testing is the process of testing the Dashboard with consumers. The PDP is aiming to identify any problems users experience in accessing the Dashboard, relating to (for example) usability and accessibility.

It is also seeking to understand data quality and whether users can be successfully matched to their pensions. Insights around user behaviour will shape future guidance and benefit the development of dashboards in the private sector.

What is the PDP’s testing plan?

There are three key stages to the testing plan:

• The first stage involves testing the Dashboard with industry experts, in order to validate data accuracy.
• The second stage (referred to as “Phase 1”) involves targeted consumer testing with a small number of users, taking place both in person and remotely. The focus is on the state pension, DC and DB pensions, as the Dashboard will not initially cater for the display of other pensions. Testing is moderated, with small-scale unmoderated testing also taking place.
• The third stage (referred to as “Phase 2”) involves scaling to open industry recruitment. The aim is for this phase to build up to testing for all pension types. The PDP will continue to use moderated testing methods whilst also expanding unmoderated approaches. For this phase, the PDP have indicated that testing volumes will increase to thousands, ultimately reaching up to 20,000 users.

Has testing already started?

Yes!

The first rounds of industry expert testing were successfully completed earlier this year, though will continue alongside wider testing.

The PDP announced on 6 October 2025 that the Dashboard was entering Phase 1, with a small number of individuals using a real dashboard with real data. The plan is for several rounds of testing to be completed over the next few months.

Phase 1 includes testing involving up to 300 users, with around 50 of those users participating in moderated testing (where the user is observed directly by a researcher). The majority of these users will not be pensions specialists – meaning that this phase will be key in establishing how dashboards might land with the general public. For the moderated users in particular, researchers will be keeping an eye on consumer behaviour and the usability of both the Dashboard itself and the GOV.UK One Login identity service. Unmoderated users will still be providing key insights, however, in terms of the scope for higher volume testing in Phase 2.

Will testing impact all schemes?

As discussed above, for Phase 1 the focus is on the state pension, DC and DB pensions. Over time, testing will be scaled up to include all pension types. However, the testing at every stage is relevant to all pension schemes, as it will provide valuable insights which will shape dashboards-related guidance.

The PDP will be maintaining communication with the pensions industry throughout the testing process, ensuring that any concerns can be addressed at each stage. Sackers remains in contact with the PDP to feed into these discussions.

However, the increased scale of testing is not a reason to panic – it’s not ‘all go’ just yet. In particular, the DWP has committed to providing 6 months’ notice for the launch of the Dashboard to the general public, so we can expect a fair amount of advance warning of the DAP. In the meantime, in-scope schemes should continue to prepare for connection in line with their ‘connect by’ date as set out in DWP guidance – otherwise Halloween 2026 could be all the more spooky.