The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published a paper highlighting the most relevant implications of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) for pension schemes. The Act, which received Royal Assent on 19 June 2025, introduces reforms to the UK’s data protection framework. Although the reforms are not specific to pensions, PASA notes that they will directly affect scheme governance, saver experience, data operations, and risk management across the saver journey.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Working Group has produced a paper entitled ‘Initial observations on CDC developments’ which looks at recent policy and regulatory references to CDC arrangements, such as the Mansion House reforms and what the future of CDC may look like.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has released its response to the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) consultation on proposed targeted support reforms for pensions. PASA broadly supports the framework but emphasises the need for clarity, consistency, and transparency in its implementation. Key recommendations include refining terminology to avoid confusion with advice, establishing clear data handling guidelines, and ensuring the framework is accessible to all saver groups. PASA also suggests that the verification process be renamed for clarity and that industry standards be developed to ensure uniform application. The response highlights potential challenges in aligning ready-made solutions to saver segments and stresses the importance of maintaining trust through high-quality recommendations. PASA advocates for an outcomes-based approach to data use and supports the ability for savers to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service regarding targeted support.

PASA has published its response to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)’s August 2025 consultation on draft guidance for organisations handling data protection complaints. In its response, PASA highlights the importance of practical and co-ordinated guidance that reflects the complex regulatory landscape in which pension schemes operate. Key points include: (1) encouraging the ICO to consider how data protection complaints interact with pensions legislation and existing statutory processes to avoid fragmented or duplicated complaints handling; (2) requesting clarification on whether schemes should maintain separate procedures for data protection complaints or adapt existing processes to accommodate them; (3) calling for greater clarity on escalation timeframes, record retention and ongoing responsibilities once a complaint is resolved; and (4) recommending the inclusion of additional practical examples to support consistent handling of subject access requests raised alongside other grievances.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published the second part of its Digital Administration Guidance series, focusing on planning the digital transformation journey for pension schemes and administrators. The guidance is the second in a three-part series aimed at supporting schemes to deliver meaningful digital transformation that improves saver experience, strengthens operational resilience and meets compliance and legislative requirements.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published its 2025 edition of the Data Matching Convention (DMC) Guidance, ahead of the Citizen User Testing phase of the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard rollout by schemes and providers. Developed by PASA’s Dashboards Working Group in partnership with Lumera, the update reflects significant industry experience and developments since 2021 and addresses enhanced regulatory requirements. The guidance now provides a roadmap outlining robust frameworks for both ‘Match Made’ and ‘Possible Match’ criteria, incorporating verified data from the GOV.UK One Login service, including email addresses. Designed for administrators, connection technology providers, data controllers, and schemes with dashboard duties, it emphasises the use of multiple unique identifiers beyond National Insurance numbers, matching certainty standards, and targeted responses to prevent system overload. Additionally, it outlines procedures for monitoring matching performance, resolving discrepancies, and continuously improving data quality. PASA Chair David Fairs noted that ‘matching lies at the heart of the dashboards user experience’. This comprehensive update provides critical guidance for schemes and providers to fulfil their legal matching duties while protecting member data.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has released its Digital Admin whitepaper. In 2023 the PASA conducted a survey and interviews to understand attitudes and progress towards digital administration. This whitepaper explores where digital administration is in 2024, how it got here and where it should go next in terms of automation and transformation. Research showed that digital administration is patchy and processes used to improve data vary wildly across the industry with there often being a mismatch between what is said and what is done. However, most schemes appear to be on the road to being compliant with the UK’s dashboards’ data requirements, and the new guidance on connection dates should allow more time for schemes to comply.

the Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has launched its 'Dashboards Toolkit', which will be updated periodically. The initial release includes a questionnaire for trustees to send to their AVC providers before connecting to dashboards, a checklist of suggested activities for administrators to manage AVC data, and a list of AVC providers along with their connection methods.

The new Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) guidance on the use of warning and unavailable codes within pensions dashboards aims to support trustees, scheme managers, and providers in applying consistent practices when complete and accurate value data cannot be immediately provided. While the Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) data standards are intentionally flexible to accommodate the diversity of pension schemes and benefit structures, this flexibility can lead to inconsistent application and user experiences. To mitigate this, the new PASA toolkit aims to offer practical advice developed in collaboration with PDP and the Money and Pensions Service, while reminding trustees and providers that they remain responsible for regulatory compliance. The guidance acknowledges that delays in updating value data may occur, regardless of whether stored or on-demand calculations are used and suggests that schemes may wish to inform savers about potential delays in pensions dashboard updates. Although the guidance toolkit addresses complex scenarios, it does not yet cover specific considerations for cash balance schemes, which are to be addressed in future updates. The guidance content will also evolve based on user feedback and live testing, with changes tracked via a change log similar to that used for PDP standards.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has released an update from its Dashboards Working Group. It follows on from a busy 2023 and DWP’s Guidance which confirmed the staging dates for pensions dashboards’ connection. PASA is currently working on new guidance and content covering Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), Test Case Matrix, Matching and Administration Readiness.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) has published updated and expanded guidance on data readiness requirements for pension scheme buy-ins and buyouts. The updated guidance updates the February 2023 version, detailing essential data requirements for insurers and noting schemes must be dashboard-ready by October 2026 unless fully bought out. The updated guidance outlines specific data requirements across member categories and emphasises that trustees should complete data cleansing before buy-in to retain control of decision-making processes.

The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) Dashboards Working Group has published an Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) toolkit addressing compliance requirements for schemes with split administration connecting to the Central Digital Architecture (CDA). The guidance outlines TPR and FCA's position that all scheme sections must connect simultaneously, while acknowledging practical challenges. TPR confirms it will not typically consider connection timing breaches materially significant if remaining sections connect by 31 October 2026, provided prompt remedial action is taken.