It was announced in the 2016 March Budget that such a service would be created. The industry was tasked by Government to develop a prototype to show that the technology to connect everybody in the UK with data from all of their various pensions, including the State Pension, can work.
The prototype was successfully delivered in March but work has continued to research consumer needs, engage with the wider industry, refine technical standards and look at how it could be appropriately regulated. The project has brought together representatives from all parts of the pensions industry as well as tech firms, and has consulted with consumer groups.
The project group, managed by the ABI and including 16 contributors and the PLSA, is now setting out its recommendations for what should happen next. The key objective is that consumers should have a right to access information about all of their pensions in one place of their choice in a standardised digital format, through regulated services.
Steps being outlined today to achieve this include:
Government legislation to ensure all pension providers and schemes make their data available
Consumers currently find it difficult to gather information about their various pensions. Consumer research found they were generally only interested in the idea of using a pensions dashboard style service if they could count on it to be near complete. Other countries with dashboard services cite compulsion as a key part of delivering a successful service.
An implementation timetable, and an implementation and governance body which will establish the necessary standards for all involved
Establishing such a service will require a lot of joint-working across many different parts of industry along with regulators and legislators. This requires a clear implementation plan and timetable. An implementation and governance body will need to oversee implementation and then the on-going operation of a trusted service.
Establishing a non-commercial, Government-backed platform which will operate alongside services from third parties.
Consumer research found a Government-backed, non-commercial option was considered important to engender trust in a new service. However, there was also considerable demand for additional tools and services of a type that third party providers, such as financial advisors and pension companies, are well placed to offer.
Yvonne Braun, ABI Director of Policy, Long-term Savings and Protection, said:“The potential of a pensions dashboard style service is exciting. Our recent research has found the majority of consumers easily see the value of the concept, are genuinely excited by it, and imagine it would encourage them to save and plan more effectively for later life.
“We have the support of the public and we know the technology works. It’s time for the Government to lay its cards on the table and be clear about what it is prepared to commit to this important project, and when. For such a service to succeed it needs to be as comprehensive as possible, as soon as possible, and anything which involves people’s life savings must be effectively regulated. We need a clear timetable for implementation and legislation so we can turn this great concept into a genuine public service.”
The key findings and recommendations of the project are set out in more detail here.
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