If you’ve lost track of an old workplace or personal pension, the Pension Tracing Service can help you find the contact details you need to chase it up. This guide explains how the service works, who can use it, and every way to get in touch.
According to GOV.UK, the service run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gives you contact details for a pension scheme or provider. One thing to know up front: it will not tell you whether you actually have a pension, or how much it is worth. It simply points you to the right people to ask.
You can start online for free at the official Pension Tracing Service tool, or use the phone and postal options below.
How do I use the Pension Tracing Service?
The quickest route is the online service. To use it, you need the name of an employer or a pension provider. The tool then searches its database and returns the contact details it holds for that scheme.
You can begin the search from the GOV.UK page. The service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) at the Welsh-language version.
Once you have the contact details, you deal directly with the scheme or provider to find out what you’re owed.
Who can search for a lost pension?
The service covers two situations:
- Your own pension – contact details for your own workplace or personal pension scheme.
- Someone else’s pension – details for another person’s scheme, but only if you have their permission.
In both cases you must know the name of an employer or pension provider before you start. Without that, the tool cannot run a search.
How do I contact the Pension Tracing Service by phone?
If you’d rather not use the online tool, you can request contact details by phone. As with the online service, the team cannot tell you whether you have a pension or what it’s worth.
- Telephone: 0800 731 0175
- From outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 7777
- Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0175
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Details of call charges are set out at GOV.UK’s call charges page, and Relay UK information is available at relayuk.bt.com.
Is there a British Sign Language option?
Yes. If you’re on a computer, you can use the British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service through the InterpretersLive VRS link. There’s also guidance on how to use the service on a mobile or tablet.
Can I write to the Pension Service by post?
You can request contact details by post as well. Send your letter to:
- The Pension Service
- Post Handling Site A
- Wolverhampton
- WV98 1AF
- United Kingdom
When writing, include the name of the employer or provider so the team can search for the scheme. Avoid sending sensitive personal details you don’t need to share.
What will the service not do for me?
It helps to be clear on the limits before you start. The Pension Tracing Service:
- Won’t confirm you have a pension – it only provides contact details for schemes and providers.
- Won’t tell you the value – you find that out directly from the scheme once you make contact.
- Needs a name – you must supply an employer or pension provider name to run the search.
What should I do after I get the contact details?
Getting in touch with the scheme is the next step. Ask whether they hold a pension in your name, what it’s worth, and how to claim it. Keep a record of the reference numbers and names of anyone you speak to.
This page sits within GOV.UK’s wider “Plan your retirement income” guidance. Related steps include checking your State Pension age, getting a State Pension forecast, and checking whether you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in your record.
For pension advice, GOV.UK suggests speaking to a financial adviser, and you can find one through Unbiased. Always check the latest contact details on the official GOV.UK page before you act, in case opening hours or numbers change.
