How Do You Find Lost or Old Workplace Pensions?

If you have changed jobs a few times, you probably have pension pots you have half-forgotten. Tracking them down is one of the most worthwhile jobs in retirement planning, because you cannot plan around money you have lost sight of. This guide is part of our complete guide to UK retirement rules.

01How big is the problem?

Research by the Pensions Policy Institute in 2024 estimated that £31.1 billion sits in around 3.3 million lost pension pots in the UK. The average lost pot was £9,470, rising to £13,620 for people aged 55 to 75.

It is rarely carelessness. Pots go missing for ordinary reasons:

• You change jobs and leave a workplace pension behind each time.
• Providers merge or rebrand, so the name on your paperwork no longer exists.
• You move house without telling an old provider, and the statements stop.

Since automatic enrolment began in 2012, almost every job comes with a pension, so the number of small pots people leave behind keeps growing.

02How do you trace a pension, step by step?

1. List every job you have had since you were about 18, with rough dates. Include short-term and part-time work from 2012 onwards.
2. Look for paperwork. Old payslips showing pension deductions, P60s, annual statements and joining letters all help.
3. Check your State Pension forecast. Your National Insurance record shows the years you worked, which can jog your memory. See our State Pension forecast guide.
4. Contact old employers or providers directly if you know who they are.
5. For the rest, use the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK, or call 0800 731 0175, Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. You need the employer or provider name.
6. Write to each scheme with your full name, any previous names, date of birth, National Insurance number and the dates you worked there. Ask for the current value, a transfer value and details of any guarantees.
7. Update your address and nominated beneficiaries with every scheme you find.

03What will the Pension Tracing Service not do?

It gives you contact details only. It will not confirm that you have a pension, and it will not tell you the value. That part is down to you and the scheme.

04Do you need to pay anyone?

No. The government service is free. Some companies offer to find your pensions for "free" as a way of encouraging you to transfer to them. That can be convenient, but check their charges and what you would be giving up first.

Be especially wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue offering a free pension review. Cold calls about pensions are illegal, and it is a common opening for scams.

05Are pensions dashboards coming?

Yes, but not quite yet. Pensions dashboards will let you see all your pensions, including your State Pension, in one place online. Pension schemes have until 31st October 2026 to connect. The free MoneyHelper dashboard is expected to open to the public during the 2027/28 financial year, with commercial dashboards to follow.

Until then, the steps above are the way to do it.

06Should you combine the pensions you find?

Finding old pots and combining them are separate decisions. Bringing everything into one pension can make it easier to manage, and may cut what you pay in charges. But some older pensions carry features you would lose by transferring:

• Guaranteed annuity rates, which can be far higher than anything on the market today
• A protected right to more than 25% tax-free cash
• A protected pension age below 57
• Guaranteed growth rates or with-profits bonuses

Some also charge exit penalties. Ask each scheme, in writing, whether any of these apply before you move anything. If a pension has guarantees worth more than £30,000, you are legally required to take regulated advice before transferring.

If you do decide to consolidate, we compare providers on fees, investment options and service in our pension reviews. Once you know what you have, our Pension Projection Calculator shows what it could be worth by the time you retire.

07Why does this matter more from 2027?

From 6th April 2027, unused pensions count towards your estate for Inheritance Tax, and your executors will have to report every pension you hold. A forgotten pot could delay things for your family. Keeping an up-to-date list of your pensions with your will helps them as well as you.

08Frequently asked questions

Is the Pension Tracing Service free?

Yes. It is a government service and there is no charge.

Will it tell me how much my pension is worth?

No. It gives you the scheme's contact details. You then ask the scheme for a valuation.

What if my old employer no longer exists?

The pension will still exist. It will have been transferred to another scheme, an insurer or, for some final salary schemes, the Pension Protection Fund. The tracing service can usually point you to whoever holds it now.

Can I trace a pension for someone who has died?

Yes, if you are the executor or administrator of their estate. You can also search on behalf of a living person with their permission.

How long does it take?

The search itself is instant online. Getting a reply from the scheme can take a few weeks.

09Sources and further reading

• GOV.UK: Find pension contact details
• Pensions Policy Institute: Lost Pensions 2024
• Pensions Dashboards Programme
• FCA ScamSmart

Important: This guide is financial education, not regulated financial advice or a personal recommendation. It reflects the rules for the 2026/27 UK tax year as at October 2026. Tax rules change, and how they apply depends on your circumstances. If you are unsure, speak to an FCA-regulated financial adviser. You can also get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper, and from Pension Wise if you are 50 or over.