Tracing Pension Contributions

Wanderingbear

Hi, I am trying to trace some details from old employer in regards to a potential lost pension. I want to check my contributions made via old payslips or tax documents and am looking to submit a SAR request to HMRC as over 10yrs ago. But can anyone tell me which document I should also ask for would show me details of any pension contributions?

DRS1

Have you tried this?
Find pension contact details - GOV.UK
 Or are you literally only trying to find out how much you contributed?  Payslips and tax returns will not tell you where your pension is (although I do remember filling in some tax forms which listed the pension provider but I am told that is so last century.)

Marcon

Wanderingbear said:

Hi, I am trying to trace some details from old employer in regards to a potential lost pension. I want to check my contributions made via old payslips or tax documents and am looking to submit a SAR request to HMRC as over 10yrs ago. But can anyone tell me which document I should also ask for would show me details of any pension contributions?

The only person who will have old payslips is you, given the length of time which has elapsed.

A SAR will give you details of former employers, but unless you were in a contracted out pension scheme, they won't give you any help in respect of pensions.

How long ago are we talking about - could you be a bit more precise in terms of the years in question? Any idea how long you think you contributed? Can you remember who the employer was - if you can name them (no reason not to) someone might be able to assist in terms of the type of pension they had? Have you moved house since (you think) you contributed to this 'potential lost pension'? Do you complete self assessment tax returns and were you doing so during the period in question?

Sorry for all the questions, but it might help to avoid a wild goose chase - or help you capture the golden goose!

Wanderingbear

@Marcon unfortunately just after covid I got rid of a load of paperwork and these payslips were included. I was employed from 2002-2006 at Bairstow Eves Estate Agents which was part of the Countrywide Assured Group (now Connells Group)  I was part of the new home sales dept and transferred over to work for Taylor Wimpey homes in 2006 when my pension with Scottish Widows was started but I can't remember whether I was in a scheme during the 4 yrs 2002-2006 whilst with B.Eves but considering I have pensions from my first employer in 1997 to my current employer, I can't see why this 4 Yr period would be without one as I have always understood the pensions to be an important asset. 
I did move house in 2004 and have just found that my first pension with Marks and Spencer was still under old address and maiden name.
The HR dept said they won't hold employee details now after so long due to GDPR so I just wondered if there is any documentation from HMRC that would show if pension contributions had actually been paid from my salary? 

Marcon

Wanderingbear said:

@Marcon unfortunately just after covid I got rid of a load of paperwork and these payslips were included. I was employed from 2002-2006 at Bairstow Eves Estate Agents which was part of the Countrywide Assured Group (now Connells Group)  I was part of the new home sales dept and transferred over to work for Taylor Wimpey homes in 2006 when my pension with Scottish Widows was started but I can't remember whether I was in a scheme during the 4 yrs 2002-2006 whilst with B.Eves but considering I have pensions from my first employer in 1997 to my current employer, I can't see why this 4 Yr period would be without one as I have always understood the pensions to be an important asset. 
I did move house in 2004 and have just found that my first pension with Marks and Spencer was still under old address and maiden name.
The HR dept said they won't hold employee details now after so long due to GDPR so I just wondered if there is any documentation from HMRC that would show if pension contributions had actually been paid from my salary? 

Thank you - that's very helpful. There are several things you could try.

HMRC aren't likely to have anything which would prove you paid contributions from your salary, unless you completed self assessment forms during that period, which in some circumstances might be helpful.

If scheme membership was via salary sacrifice, or non-contributory, then of course you won't have any contributions from salary shown on any documents.

Have a look at https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6267734/is-there-a-really-detailed-online-method-to-check-nics/p1 and in particular my post of 15 May 2021 on the first page. You'll need to read the whole thread (sorry!) to understand why asking for a SAR could help, but if you were in a scheme which was 'not contracted out' of the State Additional Pension, it might not help - but still has to be worth a go.

I've had a look at the website for Companies House, and found a lot of companies with very similar names, as I'd expected. Based on what you've said, and assuming I've got the right group, I think you might have been a member of the scheme looked after by Countrywide Assured Trustee Limited https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03505360/filing-history It's certainly worth a letter to them:

Registered office address

2nd Floor, Building 4 West Strand, Preston, PR1 8UY

You need to include your full name and any other names you have been known by; NI number; DOB; current postal address (and address from 2002-2006 if different); rough dates of employment; anything else you think might help, such as your comments about the department you were in. Pension schemes only update records if the member tells them there's been a change, so it's important to give the details they are likely to hold, assuming there is a pension scheme to 'find'.

Also worth a look at Gretel.co.uk (free, and 'real' despite the odd name!).

Wanderingbear

Thank you for your detailed help, I will take a look at each of these points 

Sarahspangles

Marcon said:

Also worth a look at Gretel.co.uk (free, and 'real' despite the odd name!).

I presume the reference is to Hansel and Gretel and their trail of breadcrumbs, but it’s a bit tenuous unless you were brought up on Grimms Fairy Tales or have worked in IT (where breadcrumbs are also a thing)

Tommyjw

Wanderingbear said:

@Marcon unfortunately just after covid I got rid of a load of paperwork and these payslips were included. I was employed from 2002-2006 at Bairstow Eves Estate Agents which was part of the Countrywide Assured Group (now Connells Group)  I was part of the new home sales dept and transferred over to work for Taylor Wimpey homes in 2006 when my pension with Scottish Widows was started but I can't remember whether I was in a scheme during the 4 yrs 2002-2006 whilst with B.Eves but considering I have pensions from my first employer in 1997 to my current employer, I can't see why this 4 Yr period would be without one as I have always understood the pensions to be an important asset. 
I did move house in 2004 and have just found that my first pension with Marks and Spencer was still under old address and maiden name.
The HR dept said they won't hold employee details now after so long due to GDPR so I just wondered if there is any documentation from HMRC that would show if pension contributions had actually been paid from my salary? 

did you try the link DRS1 posted?

E.g.

Countrywide plc Pension Scheme

Previous names for this scheme

• Countrywide Assured Group Pension Scheme
• Countrywide Assured Group Limited
• Countrywide Assured Group Limited Pension Scheme

Address

Capita

PO Box 555

Stead House

Darlington

United Kingdom

DL1 9YT

Telephone

0345 602 5367

Where you say 'transferred over' to Taylor wimpey, have you checked the Scottish Widows pension you have under that employewr that it didnt include a transfer-in from the previous employment?