How to find your old pensions

# Why finding old pensions matters There are more than three million lost pension pots in the UK, according to the Pensions Policy Institute. Lost pots can mean you miss out on retirement money and you won't see what charges are being taken or how your savings are invested. That can cost you thousands over time, so tracing old pensions is practical money management.

# Four practical steps to trace old pensions

1. 1Make a list of previous jobs

1. 1Record any private pensions you set up

Add any personal pensions such as SIPPs or stakeholder pensions. These don't follow you automatically when you change jobs, so they're easy to lose track of.

1. 1Look for provider details

Search old paperwork and emails for annual statements, welcome letters or policy numbers. If you can't find documents, use free tracing options:

• Government pension tracing service to find a provider's contact details (it won't confirm you have a pension or give its value).
• Gretel (a free service mentioned in the article) which searches for lost pensions and financial accounts when companies have signed up.
• Companies House if a former employer has closed.
• Pension Protection Fund if a scheme was transferred after employer insolvency.

1. 1Contact the pension provider

When you reach a provider, expect to verify your identity. Provide your current and previous names and addresses, National Insurance number, employer name and the dates you worked there. Once verified you can ask for the pot's details.

# What information providers commonly require

• Your full name and any previous names and addresses.
• National Insurance number as a key identifier.
• The name of the employer linked to the pension and the dates you worked there.

Having this information ready speeds up the tracing and verification process.

# What to ask once you find a pension

• Current value and a projection to your expected retirement date.
• Fees and charges applied to the pot and any exit or transfer fees.
• Where the money is invested (fund type, risk level).
• The pension type (workplace, personal, defined contribution, defined benefit) and any scheme-specific benefits you would lose if you transfer.

# Next steps and practical tips Keep a permanent list of all pensions and update contact details when you move or change your name. If you plan to consolidate multiple small pots, compare fees, charges and loss of benefits before moving money. Use the tracing resources listed above to build a complete picture of your retirement savings.

# Frequently asked brief answers

• Can the tracing service tell me the value? No. It finds provider contact details so you can ask the provider for value and projection.
• What if the employer went bust? Check Companies House and the Pension Protection Fund for where the scheme may have been transferred.
• Do I have to transfer pots? No. Transfer only after checking fees, investment options and lost benefits.