Old workplace pensions: how to find a pension pot you've lost track of
Every job that auto-enrolled you into a pension left behind a pot of money — and if you've had more than one job, there's a good chance you've got more than one small, half-forgotten pension sitting out there.
Who's eligible
This applies to you if you've ever had a job with a workplace pension — including short stints, jobs you left years ago, or employers that have since changed names, merged, or shut down. It also applies if you've ever paid into a personal pension and lost contact with the provider. The amounts can be small, especially from brief jobs, but they're still your money, and several small pots can add up to a meaningful sum.
How to check — for free
The government runs a free Pension Tracing Service at gov.uk. It holds contact details for over 200,000 workplace and personal pension schemes. You give it the name of a former employer or pension provider, and it gives you back the contact details for that scheme — so you can get in touch yourself to ask whether you have a pension with them and what it's worth.
It's worth being clear about what this service does and doesn't do: it won't tell you whether you actually have a pension, or how much is in it — only who to contact to find out. You can use it online, or by phone on 0800 731 0193 (lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
How to claim — for free
Once you have the scheme's contact details, you contact them directly — usually by phone, letter or their own online portal — quoting your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and the dates you worked for the relevant employer. They'll confirm whether you have a pension, its value, and how to access or transfer it. There's no charge from the Pension Tracing Service or from a legitimate pension provider for this.
How long it takes
The tracing service itself usually gives you contact details within minutes online. How long the pension provider then takes to confirm your pot and its value varies — it can be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how old the records are and how the provider handles requests.
Firms that offer to "find and consolidate" your pensions for a fee are selling something you can do yourself for free with the government's tracing service. Be especially wary of unsolicited calls or texts about "reviewing" or "releasing" your pension — legitimate pension providers don't cold-call you about this, and it's illegal for most firms to cold-call about pensions at all.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I don't remember the name of my old employer's pension scheme?
- You just need the employer's name, not the scheme name — the tracing service matches that to the pension provider for you.
- Will this tell me how much money is in my pension?
- No — the tracing service only gives you contact details. You'll need to contact the provider directly to find out the value.
- Is it worth chasing a pension from a job I only did for a few months?
- Usually yes. Even small pots are still your money, and tracking them down costs nothing — it's also easier to keep on top of a pension before even more time passes and records get harder to trace.
- Can I combine old pensions into one pot?
- Often yes, though whether it's a good idea depends on the schemes involved, including any fees or benefits you might lose. That's a decision worth taking your time over — this guide only covers tracing the pension, not whether to transfer it.
Information checked against gov.uk guidance. Rules can change — always check the official page linked above for the latest details.