Start with the pension plan administrator or your former employer
The fastest way to find a pension is to contact the company or organization where you earned it. If you worked for a large employer, they usually have a human resources or benefits department that keeps records of pension plans, even for people who left decades ago. Call the main number, ask for HR or the pension administrator, and give them your full name, Social Security number, and the dates you worked there.
If the company no longer exists or has been acquired, the pension may have been transferred to another administrator. The HR department can tell you who that is. If you cannot reach your former employer directly, try searching for their corporate office online or looking up their current parent company through a business database.
Keep in mind that some employers contract with third-party pension administrators — companies hired specifically to manage retirement plans. Your former employer's HR department will know the administrator's name and contact information.
Key Takeaways
- Contact your former employer's HR or benefits department first, giving them your name, Social Security number, and employment dates.
- If your employer no longer exists, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) maintains a searchable database of terminated pension plans.
- The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits and your state's unclaimed property program can help you find pensions you may have forgotten about.
- If you earned a pension from a union, contact the union local or the International Union office directly — they keep separate records from employers.
- Pension records typically go back decades, so even if you left a job many years ago, the plan administrator should still have your information on file.
Search the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation database if the plan was terminated
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is a federal agency that takes over pension plans when companies go bankrupt or shut down. If your pension plan was terminated, PBGC likely holds your information.
Visit the PBGC website and use their "Search for Unclaimed Pensions" tool. You can search by your name, your former employer's name, or both. The search is free and does not require you to create an account. If PBGC finds a record, the results will show the plan name, the employer, and instructions for contacting PBGC to claim your pension.
PBGC covers most private-sector pension plans. It does not cover government employee pensions, union pensions, or plans that were never terminated. If your search returns no results, your pension may fall into one of those categories, and you will need to search elsewhere.
Check your state's unclaimed property program
Every state maintains an unclaimed property program — a repository for money and assets that have no contact with their owner for a set period, usually three to five years. Forgotten pensions sometimes end up here.
Visit your state's unclaimed property website (usually run by the State Treasurer or Comptroller's office) and search by your name. Most states offer a free online search tool. If you find a match, the website will tell you how much is held and how to request it. Some states mail a check; others require you to file a claim form.
Search the state where you worked, not necessarily where you live now. If you worked in multiple states, search each one. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) maintains a directory of state programs with links to each state's search tool.
Contact union locals and international unions directly
If you earned a pension through union membership, the pension is usually managed separately from your employer's plan. Contact the union local where you were a member — the local number is often printed on old union cards or pay stubs.
If you do not have the local number, contact the international union office. Most international unions maintain a member services or pension department that can direct you to the right local or tell you where your pension records are held. You will need to provide your name, Social Security number, and the years you were a member.
Union pensions are not covered by PBGC, so this is often the only way to find them. Some unions have merged or reorganized over the years, so if your original union no longer exists, the international office can tell you where your records were transferred.
Look for pension records in your own files
Before you search elsewhere, check documents you may have kept from your employment. Look for pension plan statements, annual benefit statements, or letters from a pension administrator. These documents usually contain the plan name, the administrator's contact information, and sometimes a customer service phone number.
Check old tax returns as well. If you received a pension distribution or a rollover, the paperwork may reference the plan name or administrator. Even a partial name or a phone number from an old document can help you track down the right administrator.
If you have old pay stubs, they may show pension contributions being deducted, which tells you the plan existed and gives you a timeframe to share with your former employer when you call.
Understand what happens when you find your pension
Once you locate your pension, the next step depends on the type of plan and your age. Some pensions begin paying automatically at a certain age; others require you to request payment. The plan administrator will explain your options, which typically include taking a lump sum, receiving monthly payments for life, or rolling the money into an individual retirement account (IRA).
The administrator will also tell you whether you are vested — meaning you have earned the right to the pension. Vesting rules vary by plan, but most require you to work for the employer for a set number of years (often five to ten) before you own any of the pension benefit. If you are not vested, you may not be may have access to to the pension.
Be aware that if you do not claim a pension by a certain age, some plans may distribute it automatically or stop holding it. Ask the administrator about any important date or requirements you need to meet.
What to do if you cannot find your pension
If you have searched PBGC, your state's unclaimed property program, and contacted your former employer without success, the pension may not exist or may have been distributed to you in the past without your knowledge.
Some employers offer lump-sum distributions to employees who leave before retirement age. If you left a job and received a check, that may have been your entire pension benefit. Check old bank statements or tax returns from around the time you left the job to see if you received a distribution.
If you still cannot locate the pension, ask your former employer in writing to confirm whether a pension plan existed for your position and dates of employment. Request written confirmation of whether you were vested and whether any distribution was made. Keep copies of all correspondence for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back do pension records go?
Pension administrators are required to keep records for the life of the plan and for several years after it ends. In practice, records typically go back decades. Even if you left a job 30 or 40 years ago, the administrator should still have your information on file. If the company has been acquired or reorganized, records may have been transferred, but they are rarely destroyed.
What if my former employer says they have no record of me?
Ask for written confirmation of this. If the employer claims no record exists, contact the pension administrator directly (if you know who it is) or search PBGC and your state's unclaimed property program. You can also contact your state's Department of Labor, which may have records of pension plans that operated in your state. If you have old pay stubs or tax returns showing the employer, those documents support your claim.
Do I need a lawyer to find or claim my pension?
No. Finding and claiming a pension is a process you can do yourself using the resources described here. However, if a pension administrator denies your claim or you believe you are may have access to to a pension the plan administrator refuses to pay, you may want to consult an attorney who specializes in employee benefits or pension law.
Can I claim someone else's pension if they have passed away?
Possibly, if you are a surviving spouse or dependent. Contact the pension administrator and ask about survivor benefits. You will need to provide a death certificate and proof of your relationship to the deceased. The plan documents will specify who is may have access to to receive benefits after the plan member dies.
What if I worked for a government agency or school?
Government employee pensions are not covered by PBGC. Instead, contact your former government employer's human resources or pension office directly. Many states also maintain a public employees' retirement system (PERS) office that can help you locate records. School employees may have pensions through a state teachers' retirement system — search your state's education department website for contact information.