How to find lost or old pensions
Everything you need to know about tracking down your lost pensions.
Tracking down your lost pensions is vital when planning your retirement and making your later life as comfortable as possible.
With 1 in 5 people losing track of a pension, many of us could be missing out on thousands of pounds. You’ve worked hard to build those pensions, now it’s time to hunt them down and make them work for you
How do I find my old pensions?
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Check old employment paperwork – find as much paperwork as possible – documents like employment contracts and payslips could show deducted pension contributions.
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Contact your previous employers – your previous employer will have details of their pension provider, even if it has changed over time. They'll be able to advise you on who to contact to track down your lost pensions.
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Check with Companies House – try searching on the Companies House website for the names of all closed and existing UK companies.
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Use our pension finder – it'll use the information you have to track down any pensions you can’t find. To start, log in to your online account and select ‘Use pension finder’ in the transfer-in section.
What should I do when I find my lost pensions?
Congratulations on finding all your pensions. Now you need to do some research and discover how to make the most of your pension savings. This will be different for everyone and can have a big impact on your future, so follow these steps and don’t rush into anything.
Get key details from your pension provider(s)
Gather your personal information (past and present addresses, National Insurance (NI) number and employment timeframes) and contact your pension provider. If they can confirm your details, they should be able to tell you:
- How much your pension is worth now
- An estimate of how much your pension will be worth when you retire
- What type of pension it is
- Your pension management charges
- Any exit charges if you decide to transfer
- Any benefits or guarantees you could lose if you transfer
Should I consolidate my pensions?
After researching your individual pensions, you should know if leaving them or combining them is best for you. There is plenty to consider before you decide to transfer. You may want to leave a pension that benefits from a protected pension age or has a high transfer fee. However, if you want to track your pensions easily, you may want to combine them. Whether to consolidate or not is a personal choice depending on your circumstances. Please consider independent authorised advice if you're still unsure.
FAQs: Lost pension
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions.
