How to Find Old Pensions
It’s easy to lose track of pensions over the years. With most people in the UK having multiple jobs throughout their working life, it’s common to have several pension pots scattered across different providers. Some may be small, others might be forgotten altogether.
Finding and understanding your old pensions is an important step towards planning for your future. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to track down lost pensions, what details you’ll need, and how speaking to a financial adviser can help simplify the process.
Why Pensions Get Lost
There are a few reasons why people lose track of pensions:
Changing jobs several times
Moving house and not updating contact details
Forgetting which providers you contributed to
Misplacing paperwork or login details
Even if a pension pot seems small, it can still contribute to your retirement income - and several small pots combined may be more significant than you realise.
Start by Gathering What You Know
Before you begin any formal searches, gather any documents or details you already have. This might include:
Old payslips or P60s showing pension deductions
Statements or letters from pension providers
Employment contracts that mention pension arrangements
Make a list of the companies you’ve worked for and when. Even rough dates will be helpful.
Contact Past Employers
If you can’t find any pension paperwork, try contacting your previous employers. Ask if you were enrolled in a workplace pension scheme and who the provider was at the time. Most employers will be able to direct you to the right contact or at least confirm the name of the scheme they used.
If the company has closed or changed ownership, a pension may still exist - it may just have been transferred elsewhere.
Use the Government’s Pension Tracing Service
If you don’t know who the provider is, the Government’s Pension Tracing Service can help. This free online tool helps you find contact details for pension schemes linked to former employers.
You can search at:
www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details
You’ll need either the name of your old employer or the name of a previous pension provider.
It won’t tell you if you have money with them, but it will give you the contact details to ask directly.
Get in Touch With Pension Providers
Once you’ve identified a pension provider, you can request information about any policies in your name. You’ll likely need to provide:
Your full name (and any previous names)
Date of birth
National Insurance number
Name of your employer at the time
Approximate employment dates
Some providers may also ask for proof of ID. If they find a match, they’ll usually send you a statement or confirmation of the pension’s value and terms.
What Happens Once You’ve Found Them?
Once you’ve located your pensions, it’s important to review:
The current value of each pot
How the money is invested
Any fees, charges or restrictions
Whether there are benefits such as guaranteed income or early access
Some people choose to leave their pensions where they are. Others may want to bring them together to make things easier to manage. This is known as pension consolidation.
Before making any decisions, it’s helpful to understand the pros and cons of each option - and this is where an adviser can help.