What are cookies?
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that is downloaded on to your computer when you visit a website. Cookies are used by many websites and can do a number of things, such as remembering your preferences, recording what you have put in your shopping basket, and counting the number of people looking at a website.
First-party cookies
First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting, and they can only be read by that site.
Third-party cookies
We’ve recently updated our approach to cookies to improve your experience on our website. In line with the upcoming Data (Use and Access) Bill, we won’t have to ask you to accept analytics cookies, which help us improve our services. But you can still reject these cookies using the ‘Cookie preferences’ link in the footer of this site.
Third-party cookies are set by a different organisation to the owner of the website you are visiting. For example, the website might use a third-party analytics company who will set their own cookie to perform this service. The website you are visiting may also contain content embedded from, for example, YouTube, and these sites may set their own cookies.
More significantly, a website might use a third-party advertising network to deliver targeted advertising on their website. These may also have the capability to track your browsing across different sites. It is important to note that advertising cookies are not set for visitors to the Money and Pensions Service websites (MoneyHelper, Financial Capability Strategy for the UK, Pensions Dashboard Programme and the Standard Financial statement).
Session cookies
Session cookies are stored only temporarily during a browsing session and are deleted from the user’s device when the browser is closed.
Persistent cookies
This type of cookie is saved on your computer for a fixed period (usually a year or longer) and is not deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies are used where we need to know who you are for more than one browsing session. For example, we use this type of cookie to store your preferences, so that they are remembered for the next visit.
How can I control my cookies?
We have recently updated our approach to cookies to enhance user experience and website performance. In line with the forthcoming Data (Use and Access) Bill, statistical cookies, which help us improve our services, will no longer require explicit consent. However, you still have the option to reject these cookies through the 'Learn more and set preferences' link.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time. Alternatively, most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org
Browser controls
You can use your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) to:
delete all cookies
block all cookies
allow all cookies
block third-party cookies
clear all cookies when you close the browser
open a ‘private browsing’ session, and
install add-ons and plug-ins to extend browser functionality.
Where to find information about controlling cookies
| Browser | Guidance |
|---|---|
|
Internet Explorer |
Microsoft help – How to delete cookie files in Internet Explorer |
|
Chrome |
Chrome help – Manage cookies |
|
Firefox |
|
|
Safari |
|
|
Opera |
What type of cookies do we use?
First-party cookies
We use a number of cookies to support site functionality, and to analyse and compare who visits our sites and which sort of device they use. From this, we can design better services and visitor experiences. The following table shows the cookies we use, their use, when they expire and their category:
| Cookie name | Use | Typical content | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
|
public-website_session |
Session identifier |
BAh7CEkiD3Nlc3Npb25faWQGOgZFRkkiJWY4MGQwN2Y5ZjNiZjBhZjNkMjYxZmExNjk0MDAzZmM0BjsAVEkiE3VzZXJfcmV0dXJuX3RvBjsARiIgL2VuL2FydGljbGVzL21hbmFnaW5nLW1vbmV5SSIQX2NzcmZfdG9rZW4GOwBGSSIxQ0s1Qmc4dGd1dzFDTVVxYUdXNklFUk5QaURFVkdoSlJ2ellQczlqVnhJQT0GOwBG–21c1ddf4e19d067dcb 30de32de40ea456ea1d9b5 |
Session |
|
_web_tracking |
Session identifier (cross session) sent to IPS for user tracking |
b9f1f00ec4c8a00d47d0b133c9cf63bf |
1 year |
|
_jid |
Session identifier |
1335776339539805355 |
Session |
|
Cookietest |
Tells the health check whether you have cookies and Javascript enabled in your browser |
true |
Session |
|
js_enabled |
Tells the health check whether you have cookies and Javascript enabled in your browser |
true |
Session |
|
HasClickedExternalLink |
Tells the health check if you have clicked on an external link. This is so we can warn you if you are leaving our website |
Session |
|
|
qHistory_temp |
Temporarily remembers the answers to your questions while you are using the health check and allows us to give you your action plan. This cookie is automatically deleted, so no-one else can see the answers you gave |
17032 |
20120628 |
|
False#Q0A |
17033 |
HAPPY |
|
|
20120628 |
17036# |
Session |
|
|
ActionPlanState |
Remember which parts of your action plan are currently expanded so if you register and come back to the health check later on it will be as you left it |
30 day |
|
|
cm_vid |
Helps us track the effectiveness of our campaign advertising. They allow us to understand what visitors want to use and not to use, so we can improve the service you receive |
Session |
|
|
cm_medium |
Helps us track the effectiveness of our campaign advertising. They allow us to understand what visitors want to use and not to use, so we can improve the service you receive |
Session |
|
|
cm_sid |
Helps us track the effectiveness of our campaign advertising. They allow us to understand what visitors want to use and not to use, so we can improve the service you receive |
Session |
|
|
cd_campid |
Help us track the effectiveness of our campaign advertising. They allow us to understand what visitors want to use and not to use, so we can improve the service you receive |
Session |
|
|
cm_mid |
Help us track the effectiveness of our campaign advertising. They allow us to understand what visitors want to use and not to use, so we can improve the service you receive |
Session |
|
|
_cookie_notice |
Stores that you have been presented with the cookie notice |
y |
1 day |
|
_cookie_dismiss_newsletter (Inactive) |
Indicates whether the sticky newsletter footer should be displayed or not. (Inactive) |
hide |
1 month (Inactive) |
|
_cookie_submit_newsletter (Inactive) |
Indicates whether the sticky newsletter footer should be displayed or not. (Inactive) |
hide |
Permanent (30 years) (Inactive) |
|
UZ_TI_dc_value |
Saves a message to remember if you’ve taken a survey or dismissed it |
Session |
|
|
UZ_TI_S_{id} |
Identifies a survey you have been shown |
Session |
|
|
seen_cookie_message |
Saves a message to let us know that you have seen our cookie message |
1 month |
|
|
_cfduid |
Overrides security settings if your machine is trusted |
Session |
|
|
Cookie set by WebTrends analytics service, used to track and report on visitor behaviour on a site for performance improvement |
1 year |
||
|
utmz |
This is one of the four main cookies set by the Google Analytics service which enables website owners to track visitor behaviour measure of site performance. |
6 months |
|
|
__atuvc |
This cookie is associated with the AddThis social sharing widget which is commonly embedded in websites to enable visitors to share content with a range of networking and sharing platforms. It stores an updated page share count. |
2 years |
|
|
tpas-accessibility-questionnaire |
Permanent |
||
|
AMCV_{ORG_ID}
AMCVS_{ORG_ID} |
As part of our cookie policy, we use visitor IDs to enhance your experience on our Site. A visitor ID is a unique identifier assigned to each visitor, allowing us to track interactions and improve our services. |
79643557%7CMCMID%7C15283036322057788904547653814259082153%7CMCAAMLH-1729851605%7C6%7CMCAAMB-1729851605%7CRKhpRz8krg2tLO6pguXWp5olkAcUniQYPHaMWWgdJ3xzPWQmdj0y%7CMCOPTOUT-1729254005s%7CNONE%7CMCAID%7CNONE%7CvVersion%7C5.5.0 |
Up to 2 years |
Third-party cookies
We use a number of cookies to support site functionality, and to analyse and compare who visits our sites and which sort of device they use. From this, we can design better services and visitor experiences. The following table shows the cookies we use, their use, when they expire and their category:
| Cookie name | Use | Typical content | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
|
JSESSIONID |
.nr-data.net |
Used to track anonymous user sessions. |
Never |
|
AMP_TOKEN |
Google Analytics |
Contains a token that can be used to retrieve a Client ID from AMP Client ID service. Other possible values indicate opt-out, in-flight request or an error retrieving a Client ID from AMP Client ID service. |
30 seconds to 1 year |
|
_ga |
Google Analytics |
This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you’ve visited before. |
2 years |
|
_gid |
Google Analytics |
This helps us count how many people visit the site by tracking if you’ve visited before. |
24 hours |
|
_gat |
Google Analytics |
Used to manage the rate at which page view requests are made. |
2018-11-19T13:00:53.000Z |
|
__utmb |
Google Analytics |
Used to determine new sessions/visits. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and no existing utmb cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
30 mins from set/update |
|
__utma |
Google Analytics |
Used to distinguish users and sessions. The cookie is created when the javascript library executes and no existing utma cookies exists. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
2 years from set/update |
|
__utmv |
Google Analytics |
Used to store visitor-level custom variable data. This cookie is created when a developer uses the _setCustomVar method with a visitor level custom variable. This cookie was also used for the deprecated _setVar method. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics. |
2 years from set/update |
|
__utmt |
Google Analytics |
Used to throttle request rate. |
10 minutes |
|
engaged |
Google Analytics |
Never |
|
|
ajs_anonymous_id |
Hotjar |
Counts how many people visit the site by tracking if you have visited before. |
1 year |
|
_hjDonePolls |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set once a visitor completes a poll using the Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the same poll does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. |
365 days |
|
_hjClosedSurveyInvites |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set once a visitor interacts with a Survey invitation modal popup. It is used to ensure that the same invite does not re-appear if it has already been shown. |
365 days |
|
_hjMinimizedPolls |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set once a visitor minimizes a Feedback Poll widget. It is used to ensure that the widget stays minimizes when the visitor navigates through your site. |
365 days |
|
_hjMinimizedTestersWidgets |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set once a visitor minimizes a Recruit User Testers widget. It is used to ensure that the widget stays minimizes when the visitor navigates through your site. |
365 days |
|
_hjDoneTestersWidgets |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set once a visitor submits their information in the Recruit User Testers widget. It is used to ensure that the same form does not re-appear if it has already been filled in. |
365 days |
|
_hjIncludedInSample |
Hotjar |
This session cookie is set to let Hotjar know whether that visitor is included in the sample which is used to generate funnels. |
365 days |
|
_hjShownFeedbackMessage |
Hotjar |
This cookie is set when a visitor minimizes or completes Incoming Feedback. This is done so that the Incoming Feedback will load as minimized immediately if they navigate to another page where it is set to show. |
365 days |
|
iz_uh_ps |
Informizely |
History data is stored in the persistent cookie. |
365 days
|
|
iz_sd_ss |
Informizely |
Session data is stored in the session cookie. |
2019-11-19T12:54:26.000Z |
|
iz_uh_ps and_iz_sd_ss_ |
Informizely |
The Informizely’s survey widget stores anonymous data about a visitor that is needed for making decisions about when to show a survey, like the number of site visits and survey views. History data is stored in the persistent cookie “iz_uh_ps” and session data is stored in the session cookie “iz_sd_ss”. |
Never |
|
ajs_anonymous_id |
New Relic |
Counts how many people visit the site by tracking if you have visited before. |
1 year |
|
jessionid |
New Relic |
Used to store a session identifier so that New Relic can monitor session counts for an application. |
Never |
|
OptanonAlertBoxClosed |
Optimizely |
It enables the website not to show a specific message more than once to a user. |
1 year |
|
OptanonConsent |
Optimizely |
Enables prevention of cookies in each category from being set in the user’s browser, when consent is not given. |
1 year |
|
optimizelyBuckets |
Optimizely |
Used to store the page variants assigned to a user for A/B performance testing, to ensure the user gets a consistent experience. |
6 months |
|
optimizelySegments |
Optimizely |
Holds audience segmentation information for a visitor. |
6 months |
|
optimizelyEndUserId |
Optimizely |
This cookie is a unique user identifier. |
6 months |
|
optimizelyPendingLogEvents |
Optimizely |
Used as a cache of a user’s actions between tracking calls. When the tracking call is made the cookie will be wiped. |
7 months |
|
whoson |
Whoson |
Enables websites to engage with visitors via text-based chat whilst they are on the site. |
31/12/2020 |
|
CONSENT |
YouTube |
These cookies allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos. |
20 years |
|
GPS |
YouTube |
These cookies allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos. |
1 day |
|
PREF |
YouTube |
These cookies allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos. |
2 days |
|
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE |
YouTube |
Allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos used to collect anonymous statistics and performance data for embedded YouTube videos on our website. |
6 months |
|
YSC |
YouTube |
These cookies allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos. |
Never |
We use a number of suppliers who may also set cookies on their websites on its behalf. The Money and Pensions Service or organisations within this group do not control the dissemination of these cookies. You should check the third-party websites for more information about these.
If you want us to stop using personal information we’ve collected via cookies on our websites, you should change your cookie settings. In some cases, we might decide to keep information, even if you ask us not to. This could be for legal or regulatory reasons, so that we can keep providing our products and services. We will always tell you why we keep the information.
Other useful information
A number of websites provide detailed information on cookies, including:
The Internet Advertising Bureau website Your Online Choices allows you to install opt-out cookies across different advertising networks.
Google has developed a browser add-on to allow users to opt out of Google Analytics across all websites which use this popular analytics product.
New technologies such as Mozilla’s Do Not Track allow you to tell websites not to track you.
Internet Explorer has a feature called Tracking Protection Lists which allows you to import a list of websites you want to block.
You can also find more information on Wikipedia
