How to use the pensions dashboard to find and combine forgotten pension pots

Forgotten pension pots are a bigger issue than many people realise. Research highlighted by the ABI in October 2024 estimated that there are around 3.3 million lost pension pots in the UK, worth a combined £31.1 billion. In simple terms, a pension can become “lost” when the provider is no longer able to contact the person who owns it, often after job changes, house moves or years of building up small workplace pensions across different employers.

The good news is that pensions dashboards are being built to help UK savers see their workplace, private and State Pension information together in one place. As of 31/03/2026, the public dashboard is not yet live, but the government-backed MoneyHelper dashboard is expected to launch before commercial dashboards, with timing dependent on safety, security and reliability. Until then, the most practical approach is to trace pensions now, use the dashboard when it becomes available, and only consider combining pots after careful checks.

What the pensions dashboard is designed to do

The pensions dashboard is intended to make retirement planning simpler by helping people find and view pension information online, securely, and together in one place. According to the Money and Pensions Service, dashboards are being created so savers can see details of their pensions without having to contact every provider one by one. That public-service aim is especially important for people who have moved jobs several times and may have lost track of old schemes.

It is also worth knowing that the dashboards programme is being rolled out in stages for a reason. MaPS expects around 3,000 pension providers and schemes to connect during 2025 and 2026, which gives a sense of the scale involved. Rather than rushing the process, the launch is being phased to make sure the system is safe, secure and reliable for the public.

There is also an important deadline behind the scenes. DWP guidance says that relevant occupational pension schemes and FCA-regulated providers in scope must be connected to the dashboards ecosystem and ready to respond to “Find” and “View” requests by 31 October 2026. In other words, dashboards are not a single overnight switch-on; they are part of a wider connection timetable designed to reunite savers with lost or forgotten pensions.

How to use the pensions dashboard to find forgotten pension pots

When the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard goes live, the basic process should be straightforward from the user’s point of view. You will enter personal details and submit what is known as a “find request.” Pension schemes and providers then use the information supplied to search their records and determine whether they hold pension information that may belong to you.

The Pensions Regulator explains that matching may involve details such as your National Insurance number, previous names, past addresses, email addresses and mobile numbers. This matters because many forgotten pension pots are not really missing in a technical sense; they are simply harder to match because your details have changed over time. If you have changed your name, moved home several times or switched contact details, giving accurate information will improve the chances of locating older pensions.

Once matches are found, the dashboard is designed to let you view pension information in one place. That should make it much easier to build a clearer picture of your retirement savings, including pensions you may not have thought about for years. For many people, that visibility alone will be a major step forward, especially if they have several small workplace pensions from earlier stages of their career.

What happens if the dashboard shows a possible match

Not every search result will be a perfect match straight away. The Pensions Regulator says that a scheme may return a “possible match” rather than a confirmed one. If that happens, you may be told that you could have a pension with that scheme, but you will need to contact it directly and provide more information before anything can be confirmed.

This is a useful point to keep in mind because the pensions dashboard is not a magic shortcut that removes every administrative step. It can help you locate where pensions may be held, but some records may still need manual follow-up. That is especially likely if the pension dates back many years, if your employer changed pension providers, or if your personal details were recorded differently at the time.

In practical terms, it helps to be ready with supporting information before you start. Old payslips, pension statements, employer names, approximate employment dates and previous addresses can all make direct follow-up easier. If the dashboard gives you a lead, even a partial one, that can still be enough to reconnect you with money that would otherwise have remained overlooked.

What to do before the public dashboard goes live

Because the public dashboard is not yet live as of 31/03/2026, the main official tool for tracing a lost pension right now is the government Pension Tracing Service. This service can help you find contact details for a pension provider or scheme, but it will not tell you whether you have a pension there or what it is worth. You usually need the name of an employer or pension provider to begin the search.

MoneyHelper’s current tracing process remains a practical guide both now and after dashboards launch. The steps are simple: list all your previous workplaces, identify the pension provider where possible, use the Pension Tracing Service if needed, and then contact the provider directly to trace the pension. This can take a little time, but it is still one of the best ways to start recovering lost retirement savings.

If a provider does find a pension in your name, update your contact details straight away. MoneyHelper recommends making sure the provider has your current address and other contact information so it can send annual statements and important updates. That one simple action can help stop a found pension from becoming a forgotten pension again in future.

Can the pensions dashboard combine pension pots for you?

Not at launch. The pensions dashboard is being built first to help users find and view their pensions, not to combine them automatically. MaPS has made clear that the initial focus is on making sure people can locate and see their pensions safely and securely, rather than turning dashboards into a full transfer or advice service from day one.

That distinction is important because finding pensions and combining pensions are two different decisions. The first is largely administrative: you are identifying what exists and where it is held. The second is a financial decision that can affect charges, investment options, guarantees, death benefits and, in some cases, valuable safeguarded rights.

So if you are searching online for how to use the pensions dashboard to find and combine forgotten pension pots, the most accurate answer is this: the dashboard should help you find and view them, but the combining stage will still require separate action. Once you know what you have, you can then decide whether consolidation is suitable for your circumstances.

How to decide whether combining pensions is right for you

After finding old pensions, the next step is not to transfer them automatically. MoneyHelper explains that consolidation can be useful in some situations, but it is not always the best option. A sensible starting point is to identify what type of pension each pot is, because this affects the risks and the rules around any transfer.

In particular, you should understand whether each pension is defined contribution or defined benefit. Defined contribution pensions build up a pot of money, while defined benefit pensions promise an income based on factors such as salary and years of service. These are very different arrangements, and transferring out of a defined benefit pension can mean giving up guarantees or benefits that may be difficult or impossible to replace.

MoneyHelper’s guidance for defined benefit pensions highlights the need for extra caution. Before any consolidation, it is important to check whether transfers are allowed, obtain transfer quotes, review what the receiving scheme offers, and understand what benefits could be lost. For some people, keeping pensions separate may be the better long-term choice.

Practical steps if you choose to consolidate

If, after reviewing your pensions carefully, you decide that combining them makes sense, take the process one step at a time. Start by comparing charges, investment choices, retirement options, guarantees and any exit fees. A newer pension may look more convenient, but convenience alone should not outweigh valuable features in an older scheme.

It is also helpful to set realistic expectations about timescales. MoneyHelper says a pension transfer often takes between two and six weeks, although some providers can take up to six months. That means consolidation is not usually instant, especially if paperwork is required or if one of the pensions has older records that need to be checked.

If you feel unsure, regulated financial advice can be valuable. MoneyHelper notes that a regulated adviser can assess whether a transfer is likely to leave you better or worse off, help identify an appropriate destination scheme or product, and reduce the risk of moving your pension into something unsuitable. Guidance services can help you understand your options, but regulated advice is what you need if you want a personal recommendation.

How to avoid pension scams when moving old pots

Scam awareness is essential whenever you are thinking about transferring pension money. MoneyHelper warns that if you are encouraged to transfer because of a cold call, text, email or unexpected visit, it is likely to be a scam. The risk is not just losing your pension savings; you could also be left with a large tax bill if money is accessed or transferred improperly.

The FCA continues to warn that pension scams often involve attractive offers designed to persuade people to transfer their pension pot or release funds from it. This is highly relevant when people rediscover forgotten pensions, because a newly found pot can create a sense of urgency or excitement. Fraudsters know that and may try to exploit it.

Recent figures show why caution matters. On 27 August 2025, the FCA said it had received 4,465 reports of fake FCA scams in the first half of 2025, with 480 victims sending money to fraudsters. Almost two-thirds of those reports came from people aged 56 or above. As the FCA has stressed, “We will never ask you to transfer money to us” or share sensitive banking details such as PINs and passwords. If anyone pressures you to move pension money quickly, stop and verify everything independently.

For many people, the best workflow is simple: trace pensions now, use the MoneyHelper pensions dashboard when it launches, and only combine pension pots after proper checks. That approach gives you time to confirm what you have, update old records, and understand whether consolidation would genuinely improve your retirement planning rather than simply making it feel tidier.

If you need help understanding your next step, MoneyHelper offers free and impartial pensions guidance by phone, webchat or online form, although it does not provide regulated financial advice or direct access to your pension records. A calm, informed approach is usually the safest one. As industry voices have pointed out, if you can do one thing today, use the pension tracing tools to look for lost pensions, it may only take a few clicks, and it could make a meaningful difference to your future retirement income.