Who should use this service?
Anyone who has ever worked in the UK and changed jobs at least once. Almost everyone over 25 has at least one old workplace pension they've forgotten about. Common reasons UK pensions go missing:
- You changed jobs and didn't transfer the old pension — common at every life stage
- You changed address and the pension administrator can't reach you
- You auto-enrolled in a workplace pension (since 2012) at a short-term job and forgot
- Your old pension provider was bought out or merged into a new one
- You opened a personal pension years ago and lost the paperwork
- Your name changed (marriage, divorce, deed poll) and you didn't update the records
- The pension scheme moved to a new administrator
UK auto-enrolment
Since October 2012 every UK employer has had to automatically enrol most workers into a workplace pension. If you have had multiple jobs since 2012, you almost certainly have multiple workplace pensions. Worth tracing every single one.
How to use the service
- List every employer you've worked at, especially since 2012. If you can't remember, check old payslips, P60s, or your HMRC Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account — it shows your full employment history with NI contribution records.
- Use the Pension Tracing Service online at gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details. Search by employer name (for workplace pensions) or provider name (for personal pensions). The service returns current contact details.
- Or call the helpline on 0800 731 0193 (free, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm). They search and email or post you the results.
- You will get: the current name and contact details of the pension administrator. The service does NOT tell you whether you have a pension with them, or what it's worth — you contact them yourself for that.
- Contact each administrator in writing or by phone. Have your National Insurance number ready. Ask for:
- A current pension value statement
- Confirmation of the type of pension (defined contribution = a savings pot, or defined benefit = guaranteed income)
- Your retirement options
- Keep records of what you find. Update the pension administrator with your current address so it stays reachable.
What to do once you find one
Once you have a pension value statement in hand, you have a few options. Take time to decide — pensions are long-term and changing them is hard to reverse.
Leave it where it is
Often the simplest. If the pension is a defined benefit (final salary) pension, it's almost always worth keeping where it is. Get current contact details and an updated address on file.
Combine with your current pension
For small defined contribution pots, consolidating to one provider can reduce admin. Be careful: defined benefit pensions are usually NOT worth transferring out. If transferring a pension worth more than £30,000 out of a defined benefit scheme, FCA rules require you to take regulated advice from an FCA-authorised IFA — not optional, it's a legal requirement.
Take free guidance first
If you are 50+, the UK government provides free, impartial pension guidance via Pension Wise (part of MoneyHelper). One-hour appointment, free, no sales, no products. Book at moneyhelper.org.uk/pension-wise or call 0800 138 7777.
For longer-term advice — FCA-authorised IFA
For specific recommendations, use an FCA-authorised independent financial adviser. Check via the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk. Free IFA-finder services: Unbiased, VouchedFor. Initial consultations are usually free.
Never act on cold-call pension advice
The FCA banned cold calls about pensions in January 2019. If someone calls you out of the blue with a pension transfer offer, free pension review or "unlock your pension" pitch — it's almost certainly a scam. The biggest UK pension scams take retirement pots in seconds and they cannot be recovered. Hang up. Report to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.
Other UK lost money routes
The DWP Pension Tracing Service is the biggest UK lost-money pile, but it's not the only one. Three more free UK services to use while you're at it:
Dormant bank accounts
The My Lost Account service at mylostaccount.org.uk searches over 30 UK banks + building societies + NS&I in one go. Free. Run by UK Finance + Building Societies Association + NS&I as the canonical UK dormant-account search.
Child Trust Funds (CTF)
Every UK child born 2 September 2002 to 2 January 2011 had a Child Trust Fund automatically opened by HMRC. Average balance at age 18 is around £2,200. If you were born in that window (or you have a child who was), use HMRC's free tracing service at gov.uk/child-trust-funds/find-a-child-trust-fund. Money can be withdrawn from age 18.
Unclaimed Premium Bonds
NS&I says around £90 million in Premium Bond prizes is unclaimed. Check at nsandi.com using the holder's number or NS&I number, or call NS&I on 08085 007 007 (free).
Unclaimed shares + dividends
If a UK company has been bought, demerged or wound up, dividends and share certificates may be sitting unclaimed. Use the company's registrar (Equiniti, Computershare, Link Asset Services) to check.
Lost ISAs and savings bonds
Use My Lost Account (above) plus check NS&I directly. NS&I products do not become dormant in the same way as bank accounts — they sit indefinitely until claimed.