DWP Publishes Updated Roadmap for Workplace Pensions

Government sets out refreshed plan for delivering workplace pension reform

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released an updated workplace pensions reform roadmap, providing a clearer, more sequenced plan for how the government intends to implement the wide‑ranging changes enabled by the Pension Schemes Act 2026.

The refreshed roadmap updates the timelines first published last year and brings together the full programme of reform across DC, CDC and DB schemes, setting out how each strand will move from policy design into delivery.

See:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workplace-pensions-an-updated-roadmap

DC & CDC Reform Roadmap

The updated roadmap places significant emphasis on the next phase of defined contribution (DC) and collective defined contribution (CDC) reform. This includes:

• The rollout of the Value for Money (VfM) framework, with timelines adjusted following industry feedback.

• Alignment of the guided retirement framework with legislation enabling retirement CDC (R‑CDC).

• A stronger focus on trustee capability and governance, reflecting the increasingly complex DC landscape.

Pensions minister Torsten Bell highlighted that DC and CDC reforms are now entering a “delivery phase” involving government, regulators and industry, noting that sequencing is essential to avoid capacity bottlenecks and ensure reforms interact effectively.

DC and CDC Roadmap 1

DC and CDC Roadmap 2

DB Reform Roadmap

The roadmap also sets out the government’s updated approach to defined benefit (DB) reform, including:

• Continued work on the long‑term funding and investment framework.

• Integration of DB reform with wider system changes, including consolidation and regulatory alignment.

• Preparation for the Pensions Commission’s final report, expected early next year, which will shape the next stage of DB policy development.

The DWP emphasises that DB reform must support scheme security while enabling investment that benefits members and the wider economy.

DB Roadmap

A system‑wide reform programme entering delivery

Bell described the reform agenda as “hugely necessary” and stressed that the breadth of consensus across political parties, policymakers and industry is the strongest indicator of successful implementation.

He noted that the roadmap is designed to give schemes, providers and advisers greater certainty, responding directly to industry calls for clearer timelines and better sequencing.

Bell added that the roadmap “charts the course to a pensions system fit for the 21st century, with pension savers at its heart”, acknowledging both the scale of the challenge and the importance of maintaining momentum.

Why the updated roadmap matters

• Clarity: Updated timelines help schemes plan operational and governance changes.

• Certainty: Industry receives a single, consolidated view of DC, CDC and DB reform.

• Sequencing: Reforms are aligned to avoid overlap and capacity strain.

• Delivery focus: The roadmap signals a shift from policy design to implementation.