The Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA), the independent body dedicated to driving up administration standards across the pensions industry, has today published an updated version of its Data Matching Convention (DMC) Guidance to support schemes, administrators and providers ahead of the launch of dashboards.
This 2025 edition of the Guidance reflects the most significant update so far and comes ahead of the Citizen User Testing phase of the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard, marking a crucial point at which schemes’ and providers’ matching responsibilities will commence in earnest.
The updated Guidance has been developed by PASA’s Dashboards Working Group in partnership with its Expert Partners, Lumera, and builds on industry experience and regulatory developments since the original Guidance was released in 2021. It now provides a detailed roadmap for setting robust matching criteria, essential for schemes and providers seeking to fulfil their legal duties while protecting member data.
Maurice Titley, Chair of PASA’s Dashboards Working Group, said: “With real Find Requests from savers due to begin shortly, the time for theoretical preparation is over. Our 2025 Guidance is designed to help the industry respond confidently to the practical challenges of matching. The new version recognises recent developments such as the confirmed use of verified data from the GOV.UK One Login service, including verified email, and emphasises the need to adopt criteria which is both secure and effective. This update gives administrators and providers the tools to make matches which are accurate, scalable and resilient.”
David Fairs, Chair of PASA, commented: “Matching lies at the heart of the dashboards user experience. Getting it right is essential to ensure members can successfully find their pensions while minimising the risk of incorrect matches. This Guidance helps schemes meet this challenge and reflects PASA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the industry with high-quality, practical guidance throughout the dashboards journey.”
The updated DMC Guidance includes best practice criteria for both ‘Match Made’ and ‘Possible Match’ responses, outlines the use of unique identifiers, and explores how data matching performance should be monitored and improved. It also highlights how matching can support broader data improvement efforts across schemes and providers.
The Guidance is available to download now.
