Lost pension?

gatita

I wonder if anyone you help please. My partner has made several attempts to find his 'lost' pension he paid into from 1976 to 1980. He worked for Standard Telephone & Cables, (at a satelite factory)which later became Nortel. They DO have his name but say without his 'works number' they are unable to find any trace of the pension fund. Obviously the fund was frozen when he left the company.

How on earth can they demand his works number after all these years! We would be very grateful for any advice on how to proceed with this, as every penny helps now lol
Thank you

isasmurf

That does sound like an unreasonable request. I was going to suggest that you use the Trace A Pension service previously run by OPRA, but now it seems run by The Pensions Service. This won't help you however, as they will only point you to who runs the scheme, which you already know.

So, I would suggest you write to The Pensions Regulator who might be able to put pressure on them or give you further advice.

Pal

By definition a pension system has to keep NI numbers and dates of birth, so they should be able to use them to identify your partner. Failing that I would contact OPAS to ask their advice. They will no doubt put pressure on Nortel to track down their records.

twhitehead

I recently got to 65 and idly surfing the other day came across https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk.
I have worked for several firms before retiring and always transferred pension contributions from one scheme to another.
However, having nothing better to do I filled in my employment details from 1963 to 1965 online. A week or so later I had a reply to say the pension scheme I had been paying into had been split into 60 odd pension schemes but they had sent details to the correct one.
I have had a letter now from the pension scheme that tells me I am eligible for a pension of £14.70 per annum (taxable) or I can take a lump sum of £169 (non taxable). I am taking the cash as it will pay for my broadband for another year.
And I thought I was not entitled to anything. Can I suggest anyone with a chequered career try the same website???
:T

Pal

Thanks. This is actually the same "trace a pension" service that was mentioned briefly earlier in the thread. The problem is that it only helps find the correct pension scheme and contact details. It does not help make up for the incompetent administration of that scheme once you have found it!

As you say though, it is a very useful service for anyone who cannot find where their pension has gone.