- Guide
Keeping track of your pension pots
Throughout our lifetime, most of us will have probably worked for more than one employer and been enrolled in different workplace pension schemes. You could now have multiple different pension pots which you might have lost track of.
How do I find my pension?
The first thing to do is check your paperwork. Your old documents might have pension details from previous pension providers which could help you access your accounts or contact the company for more information.
If you can’t remember where your old pensions are, the government has a Pension Tracing Service to help you find them. You will need the name of your previous employers or pension providers to use this service.
To keep track of your pension pots, make sure your contact details are correct and kept up to date. You can then keep a clear record of your savings going forward.
Combining your pension pots
If you’ve tracked down your pension and found that you have more than one, you could consider combining them. This means bringing all or some of your separate pension pots together into one plan.
Combining your pension pots can make it easier to keep track of your savings, so you know exactly where you stand. As each individual pension plan has its own set of charges, it could also save you money.
Combining pension pots isn't right for everyone and there are a number of things to consider. It’s important to read the terms and conditions of each plan before you decide to bring your pots together. There could be penalties – for example, some pension providers charge a fee if you move your savings, or you may have some valuable features that you would lose through transferring to a different provider.
Looking for personalised advice?
If you’re not sure what’s right for you, we recommend that you talk to a financial adviser – there may be a charge for this. If you don't have a financial adviser, you can find the right one for you on MoneyHelper.