£31.1 billion in pensions remains unclaimed. Here’s how to track yours down

Millions of pension pots have been lost track of in the UK. 

Thankfully, there are practical ways to find them. We’ve explored the reasons behind pensions going missing and shared hints and tips on how to find a lost pension below.

Why are there so many missing pensions?

It is easier than many people realise to lose track of an old pension. According to the Pensions Policy Institute, there are an estimated 3.3 million lost pension pots in the UK, holding around £31.1 billion in assets. That works out at an average of £9,470 per lost pot, rising to £13,620 for people aged 55 to 75.

In many cases, these are pensions built up through previous employers and then forgotten after a house move, a job change or a provider merger. While the Government’s Pension Tracing Service can’t tell you how much a pension is worth, it can help you find the provider’s contact details so you can start your search.

Workplace pensions are especially easy to overlook because many people now build up several over the course of their career. Auto-enrolment has helped more employees save for retirement, but it has also increased the number of smaller pension pots people hold across different schemes.

If you move home and forget to update your provider, or if your old employer’s pension scheme has changed name, it becomes much harder for providers to stay in touch and much easier for savers to lose the paper trail.

Here’s how to find a lost pension 

If you are wondering how to find a lost pension, these practical steps can help you start your search:

1. Make a list of previous employers 

Start by writing down everywhere you have worked, even if you were only there for a short period. This can help jog your memory and highlight where a pension may have been set up on your behalf. It’s also worth including any personal pensions you may have opened yourself for a full picture.

2. Gather old paperwork 

Look through your payslips, P60s, pension statements, job offer letters – even an old CV. If you can, contact any former colleagues, as they might remember which pension provider your previous employer used. If a provider has merged or rebranded, this paperwork can also provide useful clues.

3. Use the Government’s Pension Tracing Service 

If you know the name of a previous employer or pension scheme, you can use the Government’s free Pension Tracing Service to find the current contact details for the pension administrator. It searches a database of more than 200,000 workplace and personal pension schemes. It can’t confirm whether you have a pension or tell you its value, but it can point you to the right provider.

4. Contact the provider directly 

Once you have the provider’s details, get in touch and ask whether they hold a pension in your name. You may be asked for your National Insurance number, previous addresses and the dates you worked for the employer. If they find a match, check that your contact details are up to date so future statements reach you.

5. Think carefully before consolidating 

Consolidating your pension can have both benefits and downsides. On the one hand, bringing them together can make them easier to manage. However, older pensions may contain valuable guarantees, protected tax-free cash or lower charges. Defined benefit pensions can be particularly valuable, so transferring them is often not suitable.

What information should you have ready? 

The more detail you can provide, the easier it will be for a pension provider to trace your record. Useful information includes your full name, any previous names, your National Insurance number, old addresses, employer names and approximate dates of employment.

If you changed jobs frequently, setting aside time to rebuild your employment history can make the process much smoother.

A small admin task that could have a meaningful impact

Lost pensions are more common than many people think, and tracking them down is often more about persistence than complexity. Even a relatively modest pension pot could make a meaningful difference to your retirement plans.

If you have changed jobs, moved home or simply have not reviewed your pensions for a while, now could be a good time to take stock and make sure none of your retirement savings have been left behind.

Once you have tracked down a lost pension…

… it is worth taking a few practical steps to bring everything up to date.

Start by asking the provider to confirm the policy is yours and request the latest value and scheme details. You should also make sure they hold your current address, phone number and email address so future statements and important updates reach you.

Finally, check whether your beneficiary or expression of wish details are still accurate. Life events such as marriage, divorce or having children can mean old nominations no longer reflect your wishes, so this is a good opportunity to review them.

Sources:

Pensions Policy Institute (2024) Briefing Note 138 – Lost Pensions 2024. Available at: https://www.pensionspolicyinstitute.org.uk/media/vh4aaq2j/20241024-ppi-bn138-lost-pensions-2024-final.pdf (Accessed: 19 May 2026).

GOV.UK (no date) Find pension contact details. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details (Accessed: 19 May 2026).

MoneyHelper (no date) How to find old or lost pensions. Available at: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-problems/tracing-and-finding-lost-pensions (Accessed: 19 May 2026).

Important information

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. The value of investments and any income from them can fall as well as rise, so you may get back less than you invest. Pension and tax rules depend on individual circumstances and may change in the future. Pension consolidation is not suitable for everyone, particularly where valuable guarantees or safeguarded benefits may be lost. If you are unsure what is right for you, consider taking regulated financial advice before making any decisions.