How to find a NEST pension
Lost pensions are more common than you might think. People change jobs, move house, and sometimes lose touch with their old retirement plans in the process. Nest (National Employment Savings Trust) is the largest workplace pension scheme in the UK. Set up by the government, it provides pensions for over 10 million members—so it’s no surprise that millions of people may have lost track of their Nest pots. Here, we’ll guide you through the different ways you can find your Nest pension.
What is a “lost pension”?
A lost pension is essentially one that you’re no longer actively tracking. You might have set it up or been enrolled years ago, but you’ve since misplaced the details or simply forgotten it existed. While these pensions might be “lost” to you, they haven’t actually disappeared—your money is still invested and belongs to you. You just need to reconnect with it.
Reasons to Trace Your Nest Pension
You may want to trace your pension if:
You’ve changed jobs (and were automatically enrolled into Nest at a previous workplace).
You suspect you have multiple pensions and want to consolidate them.
You’ve moved house or changed your name, and your Nest provider’s records are out of date.
You’re getting closer to retirement and want a clear picture of your total retirement savings.
Steps to Find Your Nest Pension
Create an Online Account
Nest members have a unique “NEST ID” that begins with “MEM” and contains nine numbers. If you know your NEST ID, you can quickly create an online account and see your pension details. Here’s how:
Go to the Nest web portal and open the login page.
Enter your date of birth, NEST ID, and National Insurance number.
Follow the instructions to complete your account setup.
Once your online account is created, you can log in anytime to view your contributions, fund performance, and other key information. The tricky part? You need to already have your NEST ID on hand to register.
Call Nest Customer Services
If you aren’t sure whether you have a Nest pension, or you don’t know your NEST ID, you can simply call Nest’s customer service helpline on 0300 020 0090. You’ll need to provide personal details, like:
Full name
Date of birth
National Insurance number
Current and past addresses
Nest’s customer service team will search their records to see if you have a policy with them. Calls usually take 20-30 minutes, partially because of hold times—but it’s a straightforward way to confirm if you have money saved there.
Look Through Old Paperwork
Digging out old paperwork may not be the most exciting task, but it’s often the quickest way to find your policy number if you’ve kept any documents. When your employer set up your pension, you should have received a welcome pack—and each year, Nest typically sends an annual statement or benefit summary. These might have been delivered to an old address, though, so there’s no guarantee you’ll have them on hand.
If you do find any correspondence, look for a sequence of numbers after the letters 'MEM' on the top of the first page—the policy number. Armed with this number, you can then register for digital services or call Nest for more details.
Use a Financial Adviser
An independent financial adviser (IFA) can help you track down your Nest pension. They’ll typically assist with writing Letters of Authority to pension providers like Nest, requesting full policy information on your behalf. Keep in mind:
IFAs charge fees for their services.
They can provide professional advice on next steps and retirement planning overall.
If you want personal, face-to-face assistance in sorting out your pensions, this could be a good option.
Use Penny (or a similar tracing service)
Penny is an app that automatically locates your lost pensions—including Nest—using your personal details and job history. All you need to do is download the app, enter your basic information, and Penny does the legwork:
No trawling through old paperwork.
No long calls on hold with multiple providers.
Track down multiple pension pots all at once.
It’s a super-simple option for anyone who suspects they may have one or more lost pensions. Plus, you can manage and consolidate those pensions in one place once you’ve tracked them all down.
Ready to Trace Your Nest Pension?
No matter which route you take—creating an online account, calling Nest, hiring an IFA, or using a service like Penny—reconnecting with your pension could be well worth the effort. After all, every pot counts when it comes to building the retirement you want.
If you suspect you have a Nest pension, why not track it down today? And if you’d like a hassle-free way to find all your old workplace pensions, Penny can help you get it done—fast, simple, and with no messy paperwork.
