Seemingly Lost pension

Sofie

I'm trying to trace a pension which matured in November 2010. I've had a request for further information as they can't find it. It was an employee pension of four years. I'm just concerned in case they can't trace it and I lose it. What action would I need to take then?

Thanks for any help.

JOHNGT

Try the Pensions tracing service if your employer can't find you:

You will need your employer's name, your NI number and if you have it, your staff number:

Pension Tracing Service

• Contact point
  Pension Tracing Service
• Address
  The Pension Service
  Tyneview Park
  Whitley Road
  Newcastle upon Tyne
  NE98 1BA
• Phone number
  0845 600 2537
  Calling from outside the UK
  +44 191 215 4491
• Text phone
  0845 300 0169

Sofie

I've already gone to the pension tracing service and completed the forms. I sent them to the administrators of the fund where they thought they were held. The fund have come back saying they can't trace it. I thought a nat ins number would be able to trace it.

JOHNGT

Have you got an old payslip or P60? Something that shows your employment there and would show the deductions for pension. Even if the scheme was non-contributory, the fact that you worked there and had proof would help.

The record keeping of many pension schemes is extremely poor, so you should not be surprised that they can't find you.

If you were in a contracted out scheme, the DWP (of which the tracing service is part) should have records of you being contracted out with that employer.

Don't be afraid to go back to the tracing service if your former employer still can't find you.

RichandJ

When was your actual service in this scheme ?

If it was before 1986 then it's possible you don't have a deferred benefit at all unless you can find documentation to the contrary. The link below explains when preservation came in for early leavers.

http://www.sharingpensions.co.uk/legislation4.htm#text1

Sofie

No it's 1991 to 1994. I do have a final statement which I've now sent to Zurich Assurance today.

RichandJ

Sofie wrote: »

No it's 1991 to 1994. I do have a final statement which I've now sent to Zurich Assurance today.

That should do the trick hopefully. Shows the importance generally of keeping such documents as record keeping can be haphazard especially if the admin has moved between providers.