Pensions UK, formerly known as the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, has unveiled both a new name and an ambitious new strategy designed to navigate the structural changes facing the pensions sector over the coming decade and beyond. Pensions UK sees the industry as set for a transformation driven by consolidation, growth-focused investment, and a critical need for increased savings combined with better understanding and support for managing those savings. In its strategy paper ‘2030 Ready’ Pensions UK sets out five strategic priorities that it aims to achieve over the next five years including; making pensions better by continuing to shape policy that puts saver outcomes first and by convening groups of its members more frequently; Influencing pensions policy by becoming the automatic first choice go-to voice for government and the media and Delivering outstanding value to members by delivering better insight, deeper engagement and enhanced access.

Pensions UK has published a report calling for the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across pension schemes to improve outcomes for savers. The report examines potential applications, associated risks and the governance considerations for trustees and schemes.

Pensions UK has published ‘The Better Pensions Dividend’ report, setting out proposals for a revised pensions framework aimed at improving retirement adequacy and supporting economic growth. The report recommends establishing a national framework for measuring retirement adequacy, based on minimum income thresholds and target replacement rates. It also proposes creating an independent National Council for Retirement Adequacy to review the framework every five years. Other recommendations include gradually increasing minimum automatic enrolment contributions to 12% by 2035, reviewing the level of the State Pension and introducing a 'Living Standards Safeguard' once an adequate level has been reached.

Pensions UK has submitted recommendations to the Third State Pension Age Review, proposing that State Pension age increases should only occur with corresponding improvements in healthy life expectancy and 10 years advance notice to savers. The submission recommends maintaining a single State Pension age to avoid confusion whilst allowing flexibility for early retirement in certain circumstances. Pensions UK acknowledges that the Triple Lock mechanism cannot be sustained indefinitely, noting Office for Budget Responsibility projections indicating state pension spending could reach 7.7% of GDP by the early 2070s from around 5% currently. The organisation recommends establishing a clear adequacy level for the State Pension and transitioning to a more sustainable uprating mechanism once this baseline is achieved. The State Pension age is currently 66 and is scheduled to increase to 67 by April 2028, with the government having launched the independent review in July 2025 to assess appropriateness based on updated life expectancy data and financial pressures.

Pensions UK has published findings from its new research conducted by Yonder Consulting, based on a sample of 2,082 adults, revealing that despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, pension saving remains resilient. The report notes that 44% of UK adults say their financial situation is worse than 12 months ago, up from 34% in 2024, yet pension contributions have largely remained untouched, with only 4% reducing workplace or private pension payments. It found that 65% believe people should be encouraged to make higher pension contributions, while only 18% consider the full State Pension—around £12,000 a year—enough to live on, with 62% disagreeing.

Pensions UK has responded to the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) consultation on the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Payments to Employers) Regulations 2027, which propose a framework for releasing surplus from defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. Pensions UK broadly supports the balance the draft regulations seek to strike between safeguards and flexibility, a view shared by 69% of surveyed members. It calls for the low dependency funding test to be treated as a minimum statutory threshold rather than a presumption that surplus should be released, with trustees retaining discretion to apply higher scheme-specific buffers where justified by covenant strength, investment risk, maturity or endgame plans. Advice requirements should remain proportionate and flexible rather than prescribing a fixed list. The proposed five-working-day payment window should be replaced with a longer, more workable timetable, while phased release mechanisms, including staged payments and escrow arrangements, should be supported. Further clarity is also sought on non-sectionalised multi-employer schemes and the interaction with wider tax and regulatory rules. Decisions should remain scheme-specific, with member security central.

Pensions UK has published a response letter by its policy lead, Maria Espadinha, addressing the government’s consultation on improving member benefits in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Pensions UK engaged with its LGPS members to gather views in relation to this consultation. It welcomes the government’s proposals, noting they will help address previously identified issues and historic discrimination. However, it also raises concerns about the practicality of implementation.

Pensions UK has responded to the government's consultation on proposals to amend the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Conditions for Transfers) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/1237, welcoming the continued focus on strengthening protections for pension savers while improving the efficiency and experience of transfers. It supports targeted amendments to the existing framework rather than a fundamental redesign, stating that a more proportionate, risk-based approach is necessary to address unintended friction, delays and administrative burden associated with legitimate transfers while retaining sufficient flexibility to respond to evolving scam risks.

Commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Pensions UK has published the small pots digital systems feasibility review which examines the operational and technical viability of implementing the government’s proposed Multiple Default Consolidator (MDC) model, as outlined in the Pension Schemes Bill. The review found that an industry-led model is a practical and cost-effective way to consolidate small pension pots by 2030, in accordance with the DWP’s outlined approach to resolving the issue of small pension pots. The review recommends implementing the MDC model using existing infrastructure and agreed data standards, while avoiding a centralised system. It highlights the need for strong governance and regulatory involvement and anticipates lower costs than centralised alternatives. The review notes that a second phase of work will be necessary to focus on refining technical standards, governance, consumer protections, and implementation timing, in line with forthcoming secondary legislation.

Pensions UK has published findings from research conducted by Yonder Consulting among 1,588 non-retired adults between 19 and 21 December 2025, examining awareness of upcoming salary sacrifice reforms. The findings show that 28% of defined contribution (DC) pension savers currently use salary sacrifice, yet fewer than half of respondents (41%) were aware of the changes announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget. Among existing salary sacrifice users, 62% expect to pay higher National Insurance contributions following the 2029 reforms, while 46% anticipate that less money will go into their pension savings. Behavioural responses show that 43% do not expect to change their contribution levels, while 28% indicate that they are likely to increase contributions before the reforms come into effect. Usage rates were higher among men (32%) than women (23%), and among those earning more than £48,000 (37%), compared with 16% of those earning less than £14,000.

Pensions UK has published findings from a survey of 2,082 respondents conducted by Yonder Consulting in September 2025, highlighting a strong demand among pension savers for clearer and more accessible information about their retirement savings. The results show that email is the most preferred communication channel (62%), followed by websites (44%) and paper statements (37%), with mobile apps and government updates each used by 30% of respondents. While newer channels such as social media, webinars and AI tools are less widely used overall, younger savers show greater interest in these formats. The findings also identify areas of lower confidence among savers, including how much to save for retirement (28%), planning an adequate retirement income (26%), understanding the impact of inflation on future income (25%) and navigating tax rules for contributions or withdrawals (around 20%). In addition, more than three-quarters of respondents (77%) want to view all their pensions in one place, and 61% support the automatic consolidation of multiple pension pots.

Pensions UK has welcomed a government amendment to the Pension Schemes Bill that limits the extent to which the government can use its reserve power to mandate how defined contribution (DC) pension schemes invest. The proposed amendment caps mandation at 10% of total assets held in default funds and 5% in UK-based assets, aligning with the levels set out in the Mansion House Accord (a voluntary agreement signed by 17 of the UK’s largest DC pension providers to invest more of their assets in unlisted investments both globally and in the UK).