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Original poster

Finding Old Pensions

15 replies

Rebecca75 · 19/01/2022 14:20

Hi,
I've had a look online and it seems the only way to find old pensions is to list every employer.
I have moved around a lot over the years, often doing temping through various agencies as well as some longer term permanent positions in between stints of living abroad. I haven't got a record of all my employers and wondered if anyone had had any success with one of the pension finding companies as I'd ideally like to find out what I've got lying about and amalgamate them. I've got 26 years of work history to sift through..

Tia

OP posts:

DevonSunsets · 19/01/2022 14:35

I think, if you ask a pensions tracing company all they will do is firstly ask you all your employers and charge you for what you can do for free.

www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

I would sit down with a cuppa then list them all in a timeline - then add to it over the next a few days.

I have moved about ALOT over the whole of my working life so i went and looked at old saved CV's to remind myself. I then looked online for current addresses where possible. I then sent the list to the GOV pension tracing service and they found nearly all of them and they provide the contact address.

I then wrote to them all with my NI - updated my address with them and requested up to date details be sent and popped it all on a spreadsheet

Which then showed me that ill be getting about 50 p a week :D

DevonSunsets · 19/01/2022 14:42

I also notice a lot of the pension tracing services offer it for 'free' but then go on to say you will have a consultation regarding switching.

So i would be very cautious...

Original poster

Rebecca75 · 19/01/2022 14:46

thanks for your response. It sounds like you have done what I need to do. And if the result is only 50p...then maybe it won't matter too much if I miss a few.
Do you now have a private pension or are they all with your current employer?

OP posts:

ChessieFL · 19/01/2022 18:18

The Government is planning to introduce pension dashboards, which should allow you to log in and find all your pension records in one place. That could help you find some you weren’t aware of. However, this isn’t due to happen until sometime in 2023 so no help to you now I’m afraid!

bilbodog · 19/01/2022 18:27

I was contacted by DWP a few years ago as they had an old pension of mine, in my maiden name, and they were trying to find me - nice unexpected gift of £20k i didnt know about!

Mosaic123 · 19/01/2022 19:01

When you are done look at putting them with Pension Bee who will help you.

DevonSunsets · 20/01/2022 13:49

@Rebecca75

Sorry I was just joshing about the 50p! but they were all limited value as we moved around so often they didn't really have any great sums behind them.

But the exercise helped me plan as I knew what I 'had' and then could look to make up the difference to what I 'needed' to ensure I was getting a pension that would look after me. So I increased my contribution in my current, very generous, employers pension and also now buy added pension every month.

I did talk to a pensions IFA about bringing them (I have over 20!) all 'under one roof' and he did say the pensions were so varied in what they offered he would refuse if I asked because I would likely losing benefits that seemed ok now but later could really impact life choices.

This was repeated by a Lady who came in as part of a company work related benefit to do a 'finances MOT' for the employees

The PP who mentioned the pension portal is correct but it may take a while to get up and running so i wouldn't wait. The process is not complicated it just a PITA sorting out all works history, providing the information and then all the writing bath and forth informing everyone after the Pension Tracing Service have provided the contact details for you.

Georgeskitchen · 20/01/2022 13:59

You can easily find old pensions yourself . As long as you know the name of the company you can track them down

Original poster

Rebecca75 · 20/01/2022 16:59

@ChessieFL

That’s great news, thank you!! I can wait until next year if it means that I can get everything sorted out in 1 go!! I wonder what will have happened to the pensions in cases of companies closing down though

OP posts:

lorca · 21/01/2022 10:34

DevonSunsets - thank you for that link! I have been having trouble tracking down my pension contributions from a company i worked for in 1979 (!) which changed name/was bought out many times.

I've just emailed them.

Although it would be so much easier if they were all listed and collated and found under my NI number - why the hell they are not, I don't know. There must be loads that never get claimed, as people forget they have them, or can't track them.

ChessieFL · 21/01/2022 12:10

lorca that’s exactly what the new dashboards mentioned upthread will do.

lorca · 21/01/2022 13:42

Yes I get that, but I can't really see why it's taken til now - or will take til 2023! I retire in less than 10 years, and it's been a real slog to try to remember all my jobs, whether I paid into a pension with them, find what they are now called, or even if they still exist (in some way).

It should be easier, in this day and age. It's all on my NI record, surely - so why is it up to me to do the hard work? It should all be available. Now.
Pensions are a minefield.

Kitkat151 · 21/01/2022 14:05

@Rebecca75

thanks for your response. It sounds like you have done what I need to do. And if the result is only 50p...then maybe it won't matter too much if I miss a few. Do you now have a private pension or are they all with your current employer?

I did this....I’ve had an nhs pension for years but previously had x 2 local authority ones for small periods of time but had moved lots..... turns out I will be up for a 5k lump sum and £170 a month pension at 60..... so definately do it.....I thought mine would be 50p but was pleasantly surprised

Kitkat151 · 21/01/2022 14:07

@lorca

It should be easier, in this day and age. It's all on my NI record, surely - so why is it up to me to do the hard work? It should all be available. Now.
Pensions are a minefield.

Well it’s up to you....because you are the only one who will benefit 🙄

lorca · 21/01/2022 17:25

Well it’s up to you....because you are the only one who will benefit -

And my NI number is personal to me. So why can't I just find all the pension payments via my NI Number?

In 2022 - or even 2000, I would expect this to be easy. I can download all my NI payments since 1979, so why not pension payments?

Anyway.....
I can wait until the gov get round to it in 2023!

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