How to read your Pensions Dashboard results
Understand your Pensions Dashboard results, from confirmed pensions and missing income figures to calculation dates, tax and what to do next.
Frankie Dewar
24 October 2026
6 min read
Your MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard results show pensions that have been matched to you, along with any that need action. Some information may take longer to appear. Check what each figure represents and when it was calculated before using it to plan your retirement.
This guide explains the version currently being tested. Names and layouts may change as the service develops. For an overview of how it works, read Pensions Dashboard explained.
What will I see for each pension?
Depending on the pension and the information available, your results can include:
- the provider or scheme name
- contact details for questions about your pension
- information about the benefits you have built up
- an estimate of the income it could provide in retirement
The figures depend on the pension type. Some pensions build up an invested pot. Others promise an income under the scheme’s rules. The dashboard is also designed to show your State Pension information.
Some details may be unavailable or take longer to arrive.
What do confirmed pensions and pensions that need action mean?
The current MoneyHelper dashboard uses two main groups. Here is what each means and what to do next.
Confirmed pension
- What it means: The provider has matched the pension to you. Some information may still be unavailable.
- What to do: Read the available information and check any notes.
Pension that needs action
- What it means: The provider needs to confirm a possible match, or speak to you before releasing information about a confirmed pension.
- What to do: Follow the contact instructions shown.
What do the pension figures mean?
Start by checking whether you are looking at a pension pot or an income figure.
A pension pot is an amount of savings
A defined contribution pension builds up an invested pot. Its value depends on contributions, investment performance and charges.
For example, a pot value of £40,000 describes the amount in that pension at the calculation date. It does not mean you would receive £40,000 every year.
A pension income is an amount paid over time
A retirement income figure describes what a pension could pay, usually as a yearly amount. Check the label and the retirement date used.
For a defined contribution pension, this is an estimate of what your savings could provide. A defined benefit pension, such as a final salary or career average pension, provides benefits under its scheme rules. It should not be read as an investment pot.
These pension types supply different information, so compare like with like. Source: value data requirements.
Projected income can change
Retirement projections use assumptions. The eventual amount can differ because of investment performance, future contributions or when you take your pension.
Check any explanatory notes alongside a figure. A projection is a guide to planning, rather than a guaranteed outcome. [Source: FCA guidance on projected values](https://handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/pdcob5).
How up to date are the figures?
Look for the calculation date. It tells you when a figure was worked out, which may be earlier than the day you view it.
A difference between the dashboard and a recent statement does not necessarily mean either is wrong. Check the dates and whether both figures describe the same benefit.
If you need clarification, contact the provider. It may be able to supply more recent figures or explain how an estimate was calculated. [Source: FCA value-data disclosures](https://handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/pdcob5).
Are the figures before or after tax?
Dashboard figures are shown before tax. A yearly income figure is therefore not necessarily the amount you would receive after tax.
The tax you pay depends on your circumstances and how you take your pension. Tax rules can change.
What if a pension is missing?
A pension missing from your results does not establish that your benefits have disappeared. The provider may not yet be connected, your details may not match its records, or the pension may fall outside the current service.
Work through these steps:
- Check your paperwork. Look for the provider’s name and a policy or membership number on old statements, letters or emails.
- Check your details with the provider. Make sure it has accurate information, including any changes to your name or address.
- Contact the provider. Ask whether it holds benefits for you and why they may not appear.
- Find the provider if you are unsure. The free government Pension Tracing Service can help you find contact details. You then need to ask the provider whether it holds a pension for you.
The current dashboard also lets you add one alternative surname to help with matching.
The Pension Tracing Service does not confirm ownership or provide a pension value. Our guide to finding old and lost pensions explains the routes you can try.
Some pensions are outside the current service
Current testing guidance says pensions you have already accessed, including through drawdown, payments or a lump sum, are not shown. Overseas pensions not administered in the UK are also unsupported.
Separately, only pension owners can use the service. Someone with power of attorney cannot currently access the dashboard on another person’s behalf.
What should I do after checking my results?
Start with anything that needs clarification. Contact providers about missing information, correct old personal details and keep a list of the pensions you have found.
You can leave your pensions where they are. Finding a pension does not mean you need to move it.
If you are considering combining pensions, check more than the dashboard figures before deciding. Compare fees and investment options, ask about exit charges, and check for valuable benefits or protections you could lose. If your employer still pays into a pension, check how a transfer could affect those payments.
Our guide to whether to combine your pensions explains what to consider. You can also read MoneyHelper’s independent transfer guidance.
Before transferring, compare fees, check for any exit charges or valuable benefits you could lose, and make sure Penfold's investment options are right for you.
We may not accept defined benefit pension transfers. If you decide to close your Penfold account and the value of your pot has gone down, the amount returned to the provider may be less than what you originally transferred.
Investing always involves some risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you could get back less than you invest.
Common questions
Why is my estimated retirement income missing?
If the pension is confirmed, the provider may still be preparing the information. Check back later. If it remains unavailable or you need help understanding the result, contact the provider.
Can I add up all the figures to see what I will get?
Check the labels first. A pot value and a yearly income cannot be added together meaningfully. Retirement dates and calculation assumptions may also differ. Any overall picture can be incomplete if pensions or figures are missing.
Can I withdraw the pot value shown?
A dashboard does not let you withdraw money. Whether you can access a pension, and what you can take, depends on your age, circumstances and the pension’s rules. Ask your provider about your options.
Who should I contact if a result looks wrong?
Contact the pension provider or scheme using its official contact details. Explain which figure or personal detail you are querying, and give your policy or membership number if you have it. For difficulty using the dashboard itself, use MoneyHelper’s official support options.
