Unclaimed Pensions

Author: Chris Nickson

It’s actually far more possible for a person to lose track on money in a pension, whether it’s occupational or personal, than you might imagine (for obvious reasons, this doesn’t include state pensions).

You might have been in a job for a short while and not realised money was being put in a pension fund, or it might involve someone else, now dead, who didn’t know they had some money in a pension, or had forgotten it was there (which might be more common in the case of a personal pension).

The Pension Service, which administers pensions in the UK, believes that there’s around £3 billion in pension money that’s lying around unclaimed, but it’s difficult to come up with a more exact figure.

Finding a Pension

There’s a total of approximately 200,000 occupational and personal pension schemes in existence. That’s a massive figure, far, far bigger than banks or building societies. Trying to track one possible pension in all of those could be rather like looking for a needle in a haystack for an individual, at least without a great deal of information when starting.

However, the Pension Service can help with this – at least to an extent. They maintain a database of all the schemes, both past and present. It costs nothing to use it, and you can access it through the website, via mail or on the phone.

After you’ve requested a trace, the service will contact you with the result. If they discover that you, or whoever you’re representing, has money in a pension, they’ll give you the contact details for the fund so you can follow up and claim the money.

Lost Pension Finder

Pensions are the biggest pot of unclaimed money in the UK. This interactive tool walks through your old jobs and maps out exactly how to track down a workplace or personal pension you have lost touch with.

Try our Lost Pension Finder free, here on this site →

What They Need From You

Be aware, though, that without a certain amount of information there’s not a lot they can do. You’ll need to supply them with your own details, obviously, as well as the name of the pension scheme or the employer (with their full name and address, information on whether the employer changed names and whatever else you know). If at all possible, it would also be useful to supply information on the type of pension scheme – occupational, personal, etc.

Obviously, the more details you can supply, the greater the likelihood of them being able to locate the pension. You can even use this service if you live outside the UK but believe you have a claim on a UK private pension.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Claiming The Money

The Pension Service can help put you in touch with whoever has the pension, but you’ll be on your own when it comes to making the claim, although, in most cases, the procedure should be fairly straightforward.

You’ll need to establish your claim and prove your identity. From that point it should be simple to obtain payment. If you’re the heir to an estate with a pension it might take a little longer for the claim to go through – but you might also have had quite a job even tracking down the pension in the first place.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Lost Pension Finder lets you pensions are the biggest pot of unclaimed money in the UK. This interactive tool walks through your old jobs and maps out exactly how to track down a workplace or personal pension you have lost touch with. Try it now →

76 questions

Ask Unclaimed Finances a Question

Wen 09/06/2021 at 10:01 am

Hi my boys father past away he had pension at champions spark plug wirral but they went into administration and he was under the retirement age when past away how do we get in touch with the pension

Kaye 28/09/2019 at 3:38 pm

My father died about 15 years ago, he was self employed but did work in computers for a big company in London. I am sure he had a private pension. He lived in Maidenhead.

Please do contact me on where I should go next.

Staceypeaches 17/08/2019 at 12:11 pm

My Granda died 13 years ago 6 months before his 75th birthday. My grandad pension was to go to my nana but she was told no.. can you please give me some information on what she can do about getting the money she is entitled to

None 10/08/2019 at 3:28 pm

My mother Barbara Dodd passed away 2004 age 64 she worked most of her life at Montgomery Tomlinson’s saltney chester. She mentioned she had a pension but was unaware at the time how to investigate. I would be very grateful if you can find out. Thank you

Monty 01/08/2019 at 7:12 pm

Mother and father worked at champion spark plugs Wirral, both have now died before retirement age have either got paid into a pension , I am their daughter.

Babs 27/06/2019 at 2:06 am

My husband worked for a Canadian bank from 1975 to 1978. He was badly brain damaged in a car accident and was never able to work again. We separated and he to went to live in the country of his birth. I stayed on in Canada for another seven years during which time I resumed working. My husband died in 2004. I never remarried. Can I claim against his pension from the Canadian bank?

Jin 13/06/2019 at 11:11 pm

My husband paid into a pension scheme at both the pit and steel works. Sadly my husband died before he could find where to claim these pensions. I would be very grateful for some advice on this matter please.

Jin 13/06/2019 at 11:07 pm

My husband paid into a pension both at the pit and steel works. Sadly my husband died before he found out where to put a claim in for these pensions. I would be very grateful for some advice in this matter please.

Jin 13/06/2019 at 11:03 pm

My husband paid into two work pension both steel works and pit. He's since died before we found who we needed to get in touch with to put a claim in. Would be grateful for some advice please.

Jay 05/06/2019 at 8:33 pm

My dad passed away 2 years ago and trying to trace his pension please help

Deb 20/05/2019 at 1:27 pm

My Dad died last year, as far as I know he had a couple of private pensions, how can I find out if any money was paid out, my brother dealt with this matter.

Von 27/04/2019 at 1:18 pm

My father passed away 29 years ago never gave his pension a thought at the time he was only 52. He worked for one company for over 17 years and another for 17 years. I do know he had a pension not sure if it was one or a continuation. How do I trace them?
I do realise it's been a long time but have only just received his will which I could not find at the time of his death.
Please get back to me Yvonne

Kaz 21/04/2019 at 10:57 am

My father worked for Newman’s in yate Bristol and had a pension with them . The company is now closed down . Can’t find his pension

Moby 18/04/2019 at 6:21 pm

My father died Dec 2018 we are sure he had a private pension but cannot trace anything or even remember his last occupation.

Bexs 22/03/2019 at 11:10 am

How do I check if my dad had any work pension if there is no paper work for me to check and the compay he worked for at Norman Jackson Ltd has closed down many years ago.

Johnny 54 16/03/2019 at 1:47 pm

My father died in 1991 and had worked for a number of employer's but we never found out whether he had contributed into any pension schemes his widow is still alive is it too late to make claims if he has any lost pensions

Lynn 08/03/2019 at 7:34 pm

How do I validate if my dad paid into a miners pension scheme. He was made redundant in 1968.

Lynn 08/03/2019 at 7:31 pm

My dad was a miner and not sure if he paid into a pension. He was on permantley sickness benefit due to lung infection due to the pit. He left the pit approx 1970. If he did pay into a pension how would I find out.

Karin 07/03/2019 at 7:20 am

My father died 26 years ago , he had his own building company & he paid in to a private pension for some years .
We don’t know the name if the pension .
What information do we need to go further on claiming ?
Many Thanks

Rach79 21/02/2019 at 12:02 pm

My father passed away in 2002 and was in the army in the 70s/80s would I be able to claim his pension?

Stace 05/02/2019 at 3:32 pm

How do I go about checking if my dad paid into any pension when I don't know any details

Ang 18/01/2019 at 12:02 am

My dad past away last may he had a working pension they are saying that on the plan if he had a spouse or children under 21 i am the youngest at 46 and he has been divorced for over 30 years what can we do about claiming it back as he worked for the company for about 50 years

Mags 16/01/2019 at 7:04 pm

My father never claimed a war pension and now he has died almost 7years ago can I find out if he is owed any money and could it be claimed by myself his daughter margaret Gilbert

Te` 26/10/2018 at 11:54 pm

My father is alive at tge age of 73 and a uk citizen living in the Republic of Eire .He has been there 30 yrs .He claims the irish state pension but has never claimed a uk pension at all .Is he entitled to claim and can he get paid backdated unclaimed money. He has no workplace pensions but would be claiming the badic uk state pension ...can somebody help ...???

Stain 07/09/2018 at 10:14 pm

My father passed away 20 years ago and he left me something but his family went where he was working and claim without me knowing

San 20/08/2018 at 1:58 pm

My husband died in 2011, at the age of 83, he had been collecting his state pension, but prior to this had been off work through ill health, we never discussed pensions or money etc, but now I was wondering if it was possible if he had, work place pensions that I did not know about, I have no idea of the companies he worked for in the past, would it still be possible for me to check if he had any forgotten pensions?

Kabab 03/07/2018 at 8:00 am

My dad died 10 yrs ago some of our family have just found out in 1990 we got out a pension I was wondering if my dad did and how to get it

Pazza 22/06/2018 at 12:01 pm

My dad passed away in 2004 and he had a pit pension an nothing was ever heard about it. I was his next of kin am I able to do something about it now thank you

99Suzique99 21/06/2018 at 1:50 pm

My father Jack Craddock worked for Balfour Beatty, he paid into the pensions scheme all his life, but unfortunately he died in 1990, 3 weeks before he was going to retire at 60. My Mum received some sort of pension, but she died in 1995. What happended to all the funds my dad contributed?

My name was Susan Craddock, I married David Brownbill - divorced, then David Stinson - divorced. I can send over any information you may require

Emchap 01/06/2018 at 8:05 am

My dad passed away over a year ago I. Thailand and I’m finally getting his death certificate as he was cremated without one ?? I have few details, I know he was getting things sent to a uk address but I don’t know which also don’t know the companies he used to work for. Anyway I can find out?

Blondie 23/03/2018 at 2:15 pm

Hi my father passed suddenly in 2011 he worked all his life and had a pit pension is there any way of finding his pensions if so can i claim his pit pension as his only daughter.

Lynne 19/11/2017 at 12:31 pm

My father was born in United States of America - his parents were English and returned to home after his birth, my father later served in the 101st Airborne during WW2. There was talk of money being owed to him from this time which he never claimed, he died in 1984 . How can I find out if any monies were due to him or his next of kin?

Kimbo 07/11/2017 at 3:38 pm

Hi my husband passed away just over a year ago and back in the 70s he worked for standard telecommunications in the docks in Southampton,he paid into a pension with them but because he died at 58 he didn’t receive this and was wondering if there is any way I could find out about this.thank you

Trevor 19/07/2017 at 6:56 am

Sir/Madam, My father used to serve as a gym as well as a parachute instructor in the Royal Air Force just after the 2nd world war. He later relocated to South Africa in the early 1950's.He never ever claimed a pension from the pensionable date 60/65 back then and died at the age of 77 years. My question is : can myself along with my 5 siblings apply for the pension that he, or my mother who also passed on a year later, make an application for His unclaimed pension between the pensinable date whether 60/65 - 77 years.I can obtain all details but just would like to find out if this is a viable question and then a possible endeavour for this claim.My one brother and myself live in the UK, and another brother and sister in Australia and 2 sisters still live in South Africa.Thank you for your time.Trevor

Bowly 24/04/2017 at 12:53 am

My mother died 17 yrs ago before pension age,she always said her pension stated if she died before 70 we would get lump sum,my sister and me,she worked for over 20 yrs, and now nothing,we asked someone yrs ago and got told we wouldn't get it as we were on benefits, feels like its been lying there,due to my mum and she's worked for nothing,after losing life at 53. Was going to ask legal company to try get it for us

Steph 15/04/2017 at 12:26 am

My father lived with me and collected social security and pension and he helped me with my bills he died unexpectedly on ne from a hard attack and I called his pension and they said he didn't put a beneficiary down so I couldn't qualify for anything to have my Dads funeral so I had ro raise the money. My Dad told me he had life insurance but his Job he retired from stated he did not have anything I know my Dad thought he was set because he had diabetes and was on dialysis and he wouldn't want us his children to not have the funds to give him a funeral. My Dad wasnt like that I think because he was on medication lots of pills and insulin for his diabetes he mistakenly thought his life insurance was covered because he worked so long 17 plus years with the wine group they didnt want to assist me at all.........all they did was send me a letter to send them my father's death certification when they could of paid for it themselves. Can you please help me I am a single mom and my Dad helped me with bills because I work partime because I been diagnosed with anxiety panic attack depression disorder this is all so overwhelming because I been a Daddys girl for 35 years now my Dad is gone.

UnclaimedFinances Editor 15/03/2017 at 10:09 am

You can see more whichI hope this helps.

sam 14/03/2017 at 4:09 pm

Was wondering if you could help I am trying to trace my Fathers pension from quite a few years ago and I do not know where to start.
Any help would be much appreciated

Barry Wilson 22/02/2017 at 6:44 pm

My dad served in army for nine years in 60 s.but never had a pension ???????
Doesn't sound right

Little owl 15/01/2017 at 1:49 pm

My estranged husband sadly died last year and although he lived with a new partner we never divorced yet his partner is claiming his pensions, how is this possible especially as he has 3 children?
His partner asked me for copy of our seperation agreement so i contacted my solicitor for it .
I was informed by my solicitor that as there was no clause in the agreement saying it was a full and final settlement so I was legally entitled to the pension and his partner would not be able to access it. I also have his will which she was informed off which named me as benificiary.
How can I find out how she has been able to do this?

Thank you
Donna

Meeshy 04/01/2017 at 8:00 am

Hi. My dad died over 8 years ago and we received the money that he had already paid into his pension at that time. I've just found out by letter that we are due a lump sum after the company had an audit check done and this wasn't paid at the time. This has made me angry, happy and upset at the same time. However I was wondering that as it has taken them 8 years to pay this out- even though we notified them of his death at the time if we could claim for the changes in inflation/interest etc? They have said as they have just been notified we will not have to pay the 45% tax. But we notified them 8 years ago. I should also note that the company has been taken over. Thank you for your help in advance. I have further details if needed.

Jay 29/12/2016 at 2:31 pm

Hi my mother in law has just mentioned her deceased husband had a pension in various jobs he had. He passed over 30 years ago. Is it possible to find out if she can claim part of his pension. He worked last on the QE2. He worked in various factories and the railway. Or is it far to late. She does not have much information.

Jay 29/12/2016 at 2:25 pm

My widowed mother in law lost her husband over 30 years ago and has just mentioned that he payed into pensions. Is it a lost cause looking for it? He worked last on the Q.E 2 Ship last but had worked on the railway and various factories.

Ditta 22/12/2016 at 5:36 pm

I wondering if you can help me track my dads pension he has worked for many years and is getting the standard pension

trace 06/11/2016 at 11:39 am

Hi my mum passed away very suddenly in june of this year with no death policy or saving i have had to have loans to pay for her funeral but she may have had pensions or policy's that she paid into when she very first worked and maybe even in her school job she did years ago does any body know who i can contact or have a address i could write to find out many thanks in advance

DonnaL 28/09/2016 at 4:38 pm

My brother passed away just 2 years ago but had served in the British army for 9 years. I was wondering as he wasn't married and doesn't have children what happens to his pension pot? Could you point me in the right direction please

Craigan 24/06/2016 at 2:06 pm

My grandfather has recently passed away and we are unsure as to the details of his private pension scheme. How would I go about finding out which pension he was in and who would be able to claim for it?

Mums 15/06/2016 at 6:29 pm

My mum died shortly after retirement leaving a large pension. I've been told om not going to inherit the money but they can't tell me where the "pot" of cash goes?

Burtie 09/04/2016 at 9:42 pm

My dad worked in the pit he died around about 1970 now it's come to light that my eldest brother could be claiming his pension could this be true after all these years I would really like do find if there's any truth in this

Tash 05/04/2016 at 9:55 pm

Hi, I found out my mum is receiving my Dad's pension soon and I also found out some really unnerving things about her, and I am asking if there's a way for her not to receive his pension. He passed away and they were divorced, and she doesn't deserve a penny, can I have any guidence on what to do?

rosie 03/03/2016 at 3:49 pm

My father was a docker in the glasgow shipyards and paid polices and pensons can anyone help to try to find out regarding this thanks

surprise 02/03/2016 at 6:37 am

My mother was a teacher and died in 2004,so the money was never claimed.what can I do to claim it because I really need it for my varsity fees

UnclaimedFinances Editor 07/12/2015 at 2:54 pm

In this case I would contact the Pensions Advisory Service via whichI hope this helps.

Ami 07/12/2015 at 10:19 am

My father died 7 years ago, it was sudden, he did not leave a will or appoint a solicitor. After finding some documents, I ended up uprooting some funds from a work place pension with Zurich. My family and I had no idea this existed, it was quite a shock. My father had a lot of jobs in his time, I was wondering if I could have some assistance in finding out whether there are workplace pensions still remaining to claim? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ami

me 12/11/2015 at 7:20 pm

My mum and dad died approx 20 yrs ago we are trying to find out if they had private or work related pensions my dad worked for ici and then imi my mum King edwards school both worked for their employers ovet 20 yrs

UnclaimedFinances Editor 10/11/2015 at 2:36 pm

Please see gov.uk link here for more information. I hope this helps.

debsbeat 09/11/2015 at 10:38 pm

I lost my husband 8 years ago and never claimed widows pension as I had my husbands work pension who paid out a lump sum..i am still in receipt of a small monthly ammount too. I am suddenly finding it very difficult to support myself 8 yrs on. I am 56 yrs old and I work as a teaching assistant. I would like to know if I can claim widows pension now.

Steve 17/10/2015 at 7:34 pm

My mum started to receive my deceased dads pension. But as soon as she started to live in a care home the pension monthly payments have gone. I think they could be fraudulently claimed How can I see who is now receiving the payments ?

Steveb 17/10/2015 at 6:32 pm

Hi
Dad passed away
Paid into a pension
Mum started to get the pension payout but now in a care home
Can't find who the pension is now being paid out to ?
Worried that someone could be getting it fraudulently

john albert clarke 16/10/2015 at 2:34 pm

how far back can you go to claim state pension

Chaza 22/09/2015 at 10:22 pm

Hi, my dad had a workplace pension, he unfortunately passed away 5 years ago. Are me and my brother entitled to it & how would we go about it?

UnclaimedFinances Editor 08/09/2015 at 9:45 am

The Pension Tracing Service maintains a database of all the schemes, both past and present. It costs nothing to use it, and you can access it through the website, via mail or on the phone. I hope this helps.

No 07/09/2015 at 8:14 am

i am trying to find out if my late mother had a work place pension

UnclaimedFinances Editor 02/09/2015 at 2:32 pm

I have included a link to the Money Advice Service here which should help answer your question.

roni 02/09/2015 at 12:34 am

Hi can you give me advice please my dad died 2004 he had a company pension after working 40 years on the shipyards Glasgow my mother left my dad years ago I haven't seen her since can I claim my dads work pension as I was down as his next of kin I also delt with all his funeral & paid for it I look forward to your reply thank you.

bob 14/04/2015 at 11:00 pm

My dad was in the army in the 1950's to late 1960's married my mum but devorcd after 10 years. My dad moved away to salford. By the time I tracked him down he had just pass away. I have his death certificate and no I am his only son

Jessy 26/01/2015 at 10:19 pm

My mother had a pension and never claimed it. She died 2 yrs ago, I don't no the pension name is there anyway of finding it, and will we be entitled to it

UnclaimedFinances Editor 13/01/2015 at 11:42 am

@mattylad - in this case the best port of call is to the company he worked for. I would give them a call and take it from there, they should be able to help.

mattylad 12/01/2015 at 5:08 pm

My brother has recently died,and I've been left to find his funeral money. I've been told he had a pension from a company he worked for,,for around 5 years how can I trace or find out about this plz? Many thanks matt

porthole 17/11/2014 at 11:07 am

Hi my father died 22 months ago he had a private pension unclaimed for twenty two years. We have managed to get the pension back but it has been taxed. Can we claim the tax back?

maf 11/10/2014 at 8:37 pm

I worked in the UK from 1979 to 1986 for the Inland Revenue.I then left in 1986 and have resided in the USA ever since.I just wanted to know if I am entitled to any pension money.

Mbogoshi 25/08/2014 at 8:00 pm

Sir kindly a m looking for unclaimed funds to claim as a next of kin to share as partners

patsy 28/07/2014 at 11:06 am

Both my parent's died in 1977., and they were both Government employees. They both had to pay obligatory Superannuation and named each other as beneficiaries', Additionally neither of them claimed their State Pensions. Please can anyone advise me as their Daughter on what action I should take?
Many thanks
Patsy

Marjorie 23/06/2014 at 12:35 pm

My Mother died in 2001. She had a Government Pension (which I believe) she never claimed before her death. She has left behind 6-daughters and as the oldest child I would like to make a claim for my mothers unclaimed pension on behalf of my sisters and myself. I do not have much information about my mothers work history, however I do know that she worked as a domestic staff at St Thomas Hospital for approximately 25 years. Can you help me? If so, then Please contact me by phone, email or correspondence and I will provide you with more details. Many thanks.

Marjorie

Mello 01/05/2014 at 12:28 am

Pension fund about 1964 from B. M. & R. Co ltd.
Grantham links.

Marion Thom 08/09/2013 at 11:54 pm

Hi my brother has died and an ex workmate of his has advised me to claim his pension as I am his benefactor. The company where my brother worked is now closed and my brother worked there a number of years ago. I dont know where to start as I dont have any information other than the company name. Can you please help me?
Thanks
Marion

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