---
title: Insights | Tracing lost pensions
description: Tracing lost pensions is a hunt worth starting. Many people lose track of their pension pots from past jobs. Here's our simple guide to tracking them down.
image: https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/PS%20Aspire/Punter%20Southall%20Aspire%20Images/binoculars%20woman%20blue%20sky.jpg
---

- [ Our services ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services) 
    - [ Pensions ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions) 
          - [ Defined benefit ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/defined-benefits)
          - [ Defined contribution ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#defined-contribution)
          - [ SIPP & SSAS ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#self-invested-pensions)
          - [ Expert witness ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/expert-witness)
    - [ Analytics ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics) 
          - [ Numbers for lawyers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#numbers-for-lawyers)
          - [ Data compliance ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#data-compliance-for-data-confidence)
    - [ Legal ](https://puntersouthall.law/)
    - [ Employee benefits ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24) 
          - [ Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24)
- [ Insights ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights) 
    - [ Blogs ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [ Our story ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [ People & culture ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture) 
    - [ Our people ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/staff-directory)
    - [ Awards ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/awards)
    - [ Careers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)
- [ Contact us ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/contact)

[![Punter Southall - Animated icon](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/logos/punter_southall_anim_logo.gif) ![Punter Southall - Text logo](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/logos/punter_southall_text_logo.svg) ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/)

**

** **

- [ Our services ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services) 
    - [ Pensions ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions) 
          - [ Defined benefit ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/defined-benefits)
          - [ Defined contribution ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#defined-contribution)
          - [ SIPP & SSAS ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/pensions#self-invested-pensions)
          - [ Expert witness ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/expert-witness)
    - [ Analytics ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics) 
          - [ Numbers for lawyers ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#numbers-for-lawyers)
          - [ Data compliance ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/analytics#data-compliance-for-data-confidence)
    - [ Legal ** ](https://puntersouthall.law/)
    - [ Employee benefits ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24) 
          - [ Financial planning ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/service-update-apr-24)
- [ Insights ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights) 
    - [ Blogs ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [ Our story ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [ People & culture ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture) 
    - [ Our people ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/staff-directory)
    - [ Awards ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/awards)
    - [ Careers ** ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)
- [ Contact us ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/contact)
- **

**

Retirement planning Pension consulting 

19 August 2021

[** Back ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/)

**Author:** Sarah Culver

# How to trace lost workplace pension schemes

Four top tips for tracking down lost pension pots

## Tracing lost pensions

Here are four top tips on how you can track down your previous pension pots if they have gone astray: 

**Paperwork**

Sort through your files for any relevant paperwork such as policy documentation or annual statements. This will help you to identify the type  of pension, the provider/company and your policy/reference number.

### Workplace pensions

**Contact your previous employer**

Workplace pension schemes are pension schemes that are set up by [employers to provide their employees with retirement benefits](https://www.puntersouthall.com/services/retirement-planning). Workplace pensions may also be known as company pensions and occupational pension schemes. If you recall a pension scheme operated by a previous employer, contact their HR department. They will be able to confirm which pension arrangement (if any) was in place during your employment and where you can obtain further information. Remember enrolment into workplace pension schemes hasn’t always been automatic, so it may be that you would only have been a member if you completed an application to join.

**Contact the pension provider**

If you were a member of any workplace pension schemes run by a pension provider, or had an individual personal pension or stakeholder pension plan, you should contact the pension provider.  Helpdesk numbers can be easily found on their website. Panic not if you don’t have a policy number to hand, most are able to trace you using your National Insurance number, personal details and by answering a few security questions. If a policy record is found, they will be able to update your contact details and provide a plan statement.

#### Pension tracing service

There’s a government service that might be able to help. Best of all, it’s free and will search a database to find the names and contact details of your pension providers.  Their online form and helpline number can be found here on the [Pension Tracing Website](https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details).

If your search is successful, [what you could then do with the pension pot](https://www.puntersouthall.com/the-complete-guide-to-a-pension-plan) depends on your personal circumstances. 

 Share [** ](mailto:?subject=How%20to%20trace%20lost%20workplace%20pension%20schemes&body=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-to-trace-lost-workplace-pension-schemes) [** ](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20trace%20lost%20workplace%20pension%20schemes&url=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-to-trace-lost-workplace-pension-schemes) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-to-trace-lost-workplace-pension-schemes) [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-to-trace-lost-workplace-pension-schemes)

[** Back ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/)

### Get in touch today

At Punter Southall, we have a team of highly skilled risk, compliance and legal experts with deep in-house practical experience. Get in tough if you would like a friendly chat with one of us.

 Get in touch**

- LATEST UPDATES

## You may also be interested in

[News ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/national-pension-tracing-day-wins-best-thought-leadership-award-2022)

- 29 March 2022

[Punter Southall Aspire’s National Pension Tracing Day wins best thought leadership award](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/national-pension-tracing-day-wins-best-thought-leadership-award-2022)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/national-pension-tracing-day-wins-best-thought-leadership-award-2022)

[News ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/launch-national-pension-tracing-day)

- 8 September 2021

[Punter Southall Aspire launches first ‘National Pension Tracing Day’](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/launch-national-pension-tracing-day)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/launch-national-pension-tracing-day)

[Savings and lifestyle ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/introducing-national-pension-tracing-day)

- 8 September 2021

[Why the odds on finding a lost pension are better than you think](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/introducing-national-pension-tracing-day)

[Read article](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/introducing-national-pension-tracing-day)

- ###### INSIGHTS

#### Subscribe to updates

Where we share what we’re thinking about and what conclusions can be drawn on everything from the work we do to the world around us. We hope you find our posts readable, relevant and thought-provoking.

Subscribe

**

##### Subscribe to updates

Insights

![Footer graphic](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/punter-southall-hc/library/images/client/shapes/footer-graphic.svg)

###### Let’s work together

- [Our services](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-services)
- [Insights](https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights)
- [Our story](https://www.puntersouthall.com/our-story)
- [People & culture](https://www.puntersouthall.com/people-culture)
- [Careers](https://www.puntersouthall.com/careers)

[** ](https://twitter.com/PunterSouthall) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1241357)

© Punter Southall 2024

- [Terms of use](https://www.puntersouthall.com/terms)
- [Privacy ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/privacy-policy)
- [Cookies ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/cookie-policy)
- [Acceptable use ](https://www.puntersouthall.com/acceptable-use-policy)
- [Modern slavery statement](https://www.puntersouthall.com/modern-slavery)
- [Data Complaints](https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/Data%20Complaints.pdf)

Website by [Harrison Carloss](https://harrisoncarloss.com/)

© 2024 Punter Southall Group This website is maintained for general circulation and is intended to provide information only. It is not intended to be construed as a solicitation for the sale of any particular investment or as investment advice and does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any person by whom it is read. Tax treatment will depend upon individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. Please also note that the value of investments, and /or the income from them, can fall as well as rise so you may get back less than you invested. The past performance of an investment should not be relied upon as a guide to its future performance. Comment and opinion on this website is based on tax year figures in the year written and there is no updating to the current tax year. Punter Southall Group is a trading name of Punter Southall Group Limited. Registered office: 11 Strand, London WC2N 5HR. Registered in England and Wales No. 4096788. This website contains information provided by or about Punter Southall Group and its group companies. Details of such group companies are provided at http://www.puntersouthall.com/our-businesses-legal-information. Punter Southall SIPP Limited (FRN: 189480) and Punter Southall Defined Contribution Consulting Limited (FRN: 121328) are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Sarah Culver",
    "url" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/author/sarah-culver"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2021-08-31T14:43:24.345Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-08-19T15:26:38.000Z",
  "headline" : "Insights | Tracing lost pensions",
  "image" : [ "https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/PS%20Aspire/Punter%20Southall%20Aspire%20Images/binoculars%20woman%20blue%20sky.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/insights/how-to-trace-lost-workplace-pension-schemes",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.puntersouthall.com/hubfs/Logos/punter-southall-horizontal-RGB.svg"
    },
    "name" : "Punter Southall"
  }
}
```