How to find out who pension is with.

Anouchka

Hi

A few months ago I applied for a State Pension forecast. The reply was as I had expected except that it also showed the existence of a tiny additional pension.

In my younger days (when jobs were ten a penny) I flitted from post to post but, as far I was aware, I had never paid into a private pension - but it would appear that at some point I did.

I thought back to the employers I could remember and decided that there were a couple who may have made pension contributions on my behalf (yes, I was a carefree youth who never gave getting old a thought). Using the information provided on this site I contacted the Pensions tracing folk who gave me the addresses for the pension schemes I thought might be a possibility. Both these companies have replied stating they have no record of me.

At one point, also many years ago, I temped for a good number of different agencies and am now wondering if one of them made these contributions.

Could anyone tell me what else I can do to trace this pension? Also I am wondering if I can't find out who they are, how will they know where to find me or pay me? Since the time the contributions must have been made I have changed address more times than I care to remember, lived in different cities in England and now live in Scotland.

I would be really greatful for any insight anyone could give on this wee mystery.

Thanks.

A

xylophone

Do you mean that your State Pension Statement shows a COPE?

Anouchka

Yes, that's right. A COPE of £1.43 a week.

dunstonh

If you use the online state pension forecast, it will tell you which years you were contracted out. That may help tie down the period in question and which employer/scheme.

If you were contracted out and joined a scheme but then took the money back (if you left within 2 years) then these show that you were contracted out for a period but will show you as having a full record for that period (subject to NI paid). i.e. on paper it suggests a contracted out period but in reality there wasnt one.

Anouchka

Hi.

Thank you for your speedy responses. I will investigate the online state pension forecast and see if that throws any light on the matter.

A few years ago I paid into the NHS superannuation scheme for a few months. I left this job and withdrew my contributions. I have no expectation of receiving anything from the NHS but wonder if this is what's showing up.

I'll report back with my findings from the online service.

Thanks again.

Anouchka

Hi

I've checked my online State Pension Forecast. It tells me I have paid 38 years full contributions and four years part contributions. I can explain these four years as the first was when I started my very first job in the September. The other three relate to years when I was a student and worked part time.

It mentions that, due to having been contracted out at some time, I will receive an estimated £1.45 per week but I can't find out where it says when I made these contracted out payments.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Thanks

cte1111

It might be that when you were in the NHS pension scheme, you contracted out. The fact that you later withdrew your own contributions doesn't make any difference, you still would have been contracted out for that time.

Worth contacting the NHS pension scheme and seeing if they know anything about this.

Anouchka

Hi

Thanks for that. I will contact the NHS pension scheme and check this out.

Thanks.

greenglide

You need to talk, ultimately, to HMRC as they are in charge of NI contributions queries. In days gone by this was the "Contributions Agency" and this became part of HMRC some years ago.

If you start by getting a statement of NI contributions from https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/shortforms/form/NIStatement and state the reason for wanting it is to locate periods of contracted out employment you might get somewhere.

Having got this (it is printed, send by post) you could ring there help line and say you want to locate a period of contracting out. The have records of all periods of membership of contracted out schemes, it is from these records that the pension forecast was produced.

Anouchka

Hi

Thanks greenglide, will certainly look into this as soon as possible.