Tracing old pensions

[marcusjames]

Does anyone know if there is a way to trace pension funds through National Insurance numbers, or similar. A family member has an old fund but is struggling to locate paperwork etc.

Thanks

[craigjm]

Contact the DWP with the national insurance number and they will tell you everything that is attached to that number including providers and contact details

[PurpleMoonlight]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementp...

[The Leaper]

For many years now, companies etc have been required to have the pension schemes that they sponsor recorded in a government scheme known as the Pension Tracing Service (PTS). Essentially, it's run by the DWP. Details can be found here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_100...

Note that the PTS records are only as good as the records they get and it will never be 100% reliable because scheme sponsors come and go through acquisitions, take-overs, failures etc. so reporting of changes often get overlooked unfortunately. Also, the info to be provided by the person seeking a scheme is often not totally accurate.

Nevertheless, the PTS is a good starting point.

The PTS is free. Note that there are other organisations out there that sell their tracing services but they are not free and they will only use the PTS, so you pay these firms for nothing. If you really need help then the best way is by using The Pensions Advisory Service. Details here:

www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk

This is a not-for-profit government organisation (in other words a QUANGO) set up many years ago to help members of the public resolve any pension matter that is concerning them. Their services are also free.

I've used the PTS to trace pensions for members of the public. It can take a while but usually it's successful, even if the outcome is that there is no pension because the person has forgotten that years ago he/she took a refund of contributions, for example.

R

[marcusjames]

Thanks guys, appreciate that.

[jonah35]

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