Lost pensions are a bigger problem than most people realise. More than 3 million UK pension pots have lost touch with their owners, and together they hold at least £18.7 billion. Some of that money could be yours.
With National Pension Tracing Day on Sunday 25 October, here is how to find a missing pension for free.
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How Much Money Is Sitting in Lost Pensions?
The Pensions Policy Institute’s Lost Pensions 2026 report, published on 12 October, found 3,004,370 lost pots worth £6,220 on average.
You may have seen £31.1 billion quoted. That was the 2024 estimate, worked out a different way. The PPI calls £18.7 billion a minimum, so the real total is likely higher.
Around 13% of all pots belonging to over-75s are classed as lost – the highest rate of any age group.
How to Trace a Lost Pension for Free
Pensions go missing when we move house, change jobs or names, or an employer is taken over. Here is what to do:
- List every job you have had, with rough dates – including short spells from the 1970s and 80s.
- Dig out old paperwork such as pension statements, payslips and P60s, and have your National Insurance number ready.
- Use the free Pension Tracing Service. Enter an old employer’s name and it gives you up-to-date pension contact details for the scheme. Search online at GOV.UK or call 0800 731 0175.
- Contact the scheme with your name, date of birth, NI number and past addresses, and ask whether it holds a pension for you.
It will not tell you whether you have a pension or what it is worth – it tells you who to ask. MoneyHelper has free letter templates for that step.
What About the New Pensions Dashboard?
The free MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard will show your pensions, including any lost pensions, in one place, including your State Pension, once you sign in with GOV.UK One Login. Public launch is expected in 2027, possibly from April. Pensions you are already drawing will not appear, so do not wait for it.
Beware of Lost Pension Scams
Tracing lost pensions is free, so never pay an upfront fee. Cold calls about pensions are illegal – if someone rings out of the blue offering to find your money, hang up. Our phone scams guide explains more.
Then keep a list of your pensions so your family is never left searching. Our UK Life Organiser has a page for exactly that.
Missing Pensions FAQ
Can I trace my pension using my National Insurance number?
Not on its own. The Tracing Service needs an employer or provider name, but schemes often use your NI number to find your record once you contact them.
How do I know if I have a pension with a former employer?
Ask the employer’s HR or payroll team which scheme it used, or search for it with the tracing service. If the firm was taken over, the new owner usually holds the records.
How can I find out if I have unclaimed pensions in the UK?
Follow the steps above, starting with the free tracing service.
This article is general information, not financial advice.
