How can I check what pensions I have?

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Saving into a pension can help you achieve a comfortable retirement. But with people changing jobs and moving home more frequently, it's easy to lose track of your pension savings.

However, all those lost pension pots add up significantly over time. This find my pensions guide will help you trace your lost pensions and access your savings.

The information on this page should not be considered as financial advice. If you are unsure what’s right for you, please make sure you speak to a financial adviser.

How can I find my pensions?

If you’re struggling to locate your pensions, you’re not alone. According to Pensions UK 2024 data, an estimated £31.1 billion is currently sitting in unclaimed, inactive or lost pensions.

As you start planning for retirement, knowing the value of your pension savings takes on added importance. However, if you've worked for multiple employers, keeping track of multiple pension pots can feel overwhelming.

The good news is that there are ways to hunt down old or forgotten pensions and bring all your retirement savings into view. We'll explain how to trace old pensions and explore whether combining your pensions into one plan could help make managing your retirement finances simpler.

Here are the four effective ways to find your pensions:

1. Contact your pension provider

To help locate your pension, providers usually ask for as much information as you can give. This may include your National Insurance number, any previous names or addresses, the dates you worked for the employer and an estimate of when the pension was set up.

Once a pension has been traced, it's important to check that the provider has your up-to-date contact details. This will ensure you continue to receive annual statements and updates about your pension, including information on performance, benefits and any fees or charges that may apply.

If you’re struggling to find your pension provider’s contact details, check if they’re listed on the Association of British Insurers’ website. This will show you who to contact if your pension provider has a new name, has been taken over or merged.

If you've successfully tracked down an old pension, you may want to explore whether combining multiple pension pots could make them easier to manage. Be sure to weigh up the potential advantages and disadvantages before making any decisions.

2. Contact your former employer

Your former employer should be able to confirm whether you were enrolled in a workplace pension and, if so, provide details of the pension provider.

In many cases, even if the business has since been sold, restructured or closed down, payroll or HR records are still available and can help identify the pension scheme you were part of during your employment.

This information can be especially useful when tracking down older or forgotten pension pots, as it gives you a starting point for contacting the right provider and reconnecting with your savings.

3. Search online with a pension tracing service

Once you have a list of all your pension providers, the next step is to find their contact details.

The UK Government provides a free pension finder tool that searches through thousands of pension schemes. By entering the name of your current or former employer, you can quickly access the relevant pension provider’s contact details and get in touch with them directly.

4. Ask a regulated pension adviser

Some regulated pension and retirement advisers provide a pension tracing service and can handle the process on your behalf. They’ll use specialist systems to help locate old pensions, contact previous providers, request scheme details and identify any valuable features or guarantees that might otherwise be missed. They can also assess whether consolidating pensions could help simplify the management of your retirement savings.

Even smaller or long-forgotten pension pots can still be worth tracking down, as they may have grown over time. In many cases, tracing a pension is free, and bringing all your savings together can provide a clearer picture of your overall retirement position.

How do I find personal or private pensions?

For personal pensions set up directly with a provider, it’s a good idea to start by reviewing your financial records. This could include checking bank statements for payments to a pension company, searching your email inbox for correspondence or annual statements and looking at any older direct debits.

If you can recall the provider but don’t have your account details, you can contact them directly. They’ll usually ask for personal information to confirm your identity before letting you know whether you hold a pension with them.

If the provider has since closed or changed ownership, there’s no need to worry as your pension won’t have disappeared. In most cases, it will have been transferred to another provider. A financial adviser or the government’s tracing service can help you identify where it is now being managed.

Should I combine my pensions?

Consolidating your pensions isn't the right choice for everyone. In some cases, transferring your savings could mean giving up valuable benefits or incurring exit fees, so it's important to understand what you're moving before making a decision.

That said, bringing multiple pension pots together can make retirement planning much simpler. It can reduce paperwork, make your savings easier to monitor and provide a clearer picture of your overall retirement fund. Consolidation may also help you identify and compare any fees or charges you're paying across different pensions.

Many people aren't fully aware of the costs, fees and charges associated with their pension arrangements or how difficult managing several pots can become when accessing their retirement income. By having all your savings in one place, it can be easier to stay on top of your pension and make informed decisions about your future.

Are you unsure how to trace old pensions?

Finding any old pension pots, considering whether consolidating them is the right move, and regularly reviewing your retirement savings can help you stay on top of your finances and plan more confidently for the future.

If you're looking to combine your pensions into one plan, our pension advisers can help make your retirement savings easier to manage. Request a call back today.

Find my pensions FAQs

Here are some of your most frequently asked questions about how to trace old pensions.

What’s the easiest way to find pensions you may have lost or misplaced?

The simplest place to start is with the name of a former employer or any pension paperwork you still have. From there, you can use the Government's pension tracing service to find the correct pension provider and their contact details.

If you'd prefer some extra support, a regulated financial adviser may be able to trace your pension for you, contact providers on your behalf and help you understand your options once your pension has been found.

How long does it take to find a lost pension?

The time it takes to trace a lost pension can vary depending on how much information you have and how quickly pension providers respond. Having details such as your former employer's name and the dates you worked there can help speed up the process.

The Government's pension tracing service is a useful starting point, especially if your pension provider has changed name, merged with another company or no longer exists. Once you've found the correct provider, you can contact them directly to begin tracing your pension.

What should I do once I've found all my pension pots?

Once you've located your pensions, the next step is to review each one carefully. You may decide to leave them where they are, transfer them into a new pension or consolidate them into a single pot if it suits your circumstances.

Before making any changes, it's important to understand the value, fees, features and any guarantees attached to each pension. Speaking to a regulated financial adviser can help you compare your options and decide on the best approach for managing your retirement savings.