Use your extra hour to track down old pensions

The clocks go back on 25 October this year, meaning you get an extra hour all for you. While it’s tempting to spend that time tucked up in bed, why not use that hour to check for any lost pensions instead? It could make a big difference to your future income in retirement.

If you've had more than one job, there's a good chance you've built up more than one pension pot along the way. That's thanks, in part, to auto-enrolment. In the UK, employees aged between 22 and State Pension age earning more than £10,000 a year must be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension by their employer. You don't need to opt in, and it happens each time you join a new company.

As a result, many of us gather multiple pension pots over the course of our careers. And it’s easy to lose track. Currently, £31bn is sitting in unclaimed pots.

So if you’re not sure where to find all your previous pension pots, then you might have a lost pension. 

Why finding lost pensions matters

When you’re ready to start taking your pension, you’ll need to tell each pension provider. But if you don’t know where your pensions are, you won’t know who to contact – meaning you could be missing out on money that’s yours. 

Not only that, but knowing what you’re on track for in retirement can help you understand whether you need to make changes. If you’re not sure how to find your pension, you won’t know how much is in each pot. This makes it difficult to understand your total pension savings and gain a clear picture of your finances. 

How to track down a lost pension

Tracking down lost pensions might not take as long as you think, and you may only need to do it once. Here’s what you need to do:

1.    Make a list of previous employers

Jot down the names of the companies you’ve worked for and roughly when you worked for them. To jog your memory, you could sift through any employment paperwork you’ve kept and browse old CVs.

2.    Use the Government Pension Tracing Service

Once you have a full list of your past employers, you can use the Government Pension Tracing Service to look up which pension scheme your employers used when you worked there. 

If the company name isn’t returning any results, it may be because it’s under a different business name. If it’s an active business, you could visit their website to find their company number, then look it up on the Companies House website. You could also contact the company directly and ask them for their pension provider history. 

3.    Contact each pension provider 

Once you know which provider each employer used, you can get in touch to ask them if they have a pension under your name. Keep in mind, your pension could be under a different name or address if you’ve changed them. 

The provider will confirm either way if they have a pension that belongs to you. 

4.    Update your contact details

Each time you find a lost pension, remember to ask the provider to update your name and address so they can contact you in the future.

You’ve found your pensions – now what?

Now that you know where all your pension pots are, it’s important not to lose track of them again. Keep a record of your pension providers somewhere you can easily access.

It’s also good practice to tell your previous pension providers if you change your name or address. 

Then, get into the habit of reviewing your pensions regularly, so you can understand how they’re currently performing, and whether you need to make changes to achieve the lifestyle you want in retirement. 

Keeping track of all your pensions does involve quite a bit of personal admin. That’s one of the reasons many people choose to consolidate their pensions. 

Is consolidating your pension right for you?

Consolidating a pension means combining all your pensions into a single pot. This has its advantages – it can make it easier to understand your financial position, and means you only have one pension to keep track of. Plus, having just one provider can reduce the time you spend on pension admin and record keeping. 

However, consolidation might not be the best choice for everyone. Some providers may only offer certain benefits if your pension remains with them for an agreed period. This is a particular risk with defined benefit pension plans, but may also apply to some defined contribution pensions. In addition, some providers may charge a transfer fee.

You should be able to find all the information you need in the terms and conditions of each of your past pensions. If you don’t have these to hand, you can contact your previous providers.

Read more: Is it time to consolidate your pension?

Bringing your pensions together

It’s easier than you may think to consolidate your pensions. If you’re a Standard Life customer, simply log into the app, then select the Pension Transfer option to get started. We’ll guide you through each step. 

Make the most of your extra hour

This October, make the most of your extra hour by checking whether you've got pensions from previous employers. A small amount of time today could help you feel more confident about your retirement savings tomorrow. Visit Standard Life online or through the app to learn more about your Pension Transfer options. 

Four quick pension checks to make this Pension Engagement Season

1.    Check how much is in your pension. 
2.    Review how much you and your employer pay in.
3.    Check whether you have any lost pensions.
4.    Log in or use the Standard Life app to explore more ways to improve your future retirement income.

Visit Pension Engagement Season.

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The information here is based on our understanding in September 2026 and shouldn’t be taken as financial advice.

A pension plan is an investment. Its value can go down as well as up and could be worth less than was paid in.

Your own personal circumstances, including where you live in the UK, will have an impact on the tax you pay. Laws and tax rules may change in the future.

Standard Life accepts no responsibility for information on external websites. These are provided for general information.