How to find a Scottish Widows pension
Lost pensions are more common than you might think. Changing jobs, moving house, and simply losing track of old accounts can all lead to forgotten pension pots. Scottish Widows is one of the UK’s major pension providers, so there’s a good chance you might have a policy with them—especially if one of your previous employers set up your pension. Here, we’ll explain how to find your Scottish Widows pension and reconnect with your retirement savings.
What is a “lost pension”?
A “lost pension” is simply a pension pot you no longer actively track. Even if you haven’t checked it in years or misplaced the details, your retirement savings are still there. Reconnecting with any lost pension is important, as it gives you a clearer picture of your total retirement savings and can help you plan more effectively.
Reasons to Trace Your Scottish Widows Pension
You may want to trace your pension if:
You’ve changed jobs (and were automatically enrolled in a Scottish Widows workplace scheme).
You suspect you have multiple pensions and want to consolidate them.
You’ve moved house or changed your name, and your address records with Scottish Widows may be out of date.
You’re reviewing your retirement plans and want to see all your pension pots in one place.
Steps to Find Your Scottish Widows Pension
Register for “Digital Services” (Online Account)
Many Scottish Widows pensions can be accessed via their online “digital services.” You’ll need to choose which product applies to you—most workplace pensions are listed as “Workplace,” but it might differ if you took out a personal plan directly.
Go to Scottish Widow's online portal and select the appropriate pension product.
Provide your surname, date of birth, National Insurance number, and policy number.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your online account.
Once your digital registration is complete, you can log in at any time to view your pension pot online. The main catch here is that you need your policy number to complete registration, so this option is easiest if you already have that detail.
Call Scottish Widows Customer Services
If you don’t know your policy number or even if you’re not sure whether you have a Scottish Widows pension, you can call their customer service line on 0345 716 6777. You’ll need to provide some personal details, such as:
Full name
Date of birth
National Insurance number
Current or previous addresses
They’ll search their records to see if you have a pension policy. Keep in mind that you may face some hold times, but this is a straightforward way to confirm whether you have a Scottish Widows pension.
Use a Financial Adviser
An independent financial adviser (IFA) can help you locate and manage your pension. They usually do this by sending Letters of Authority to providers like Scottish Widows, requesting full policy information. Keep in mind that:
IFAs charge fees for their services.
They can give professional advice on pension consolidation and retirement planning.
If you’d prefer expert guidance, this might be the right route for you.
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, Scottish Widows 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 (and possibly letters) on the first page—the policy number. Armed with this number, you can then register for digital services or call Scottish Widows for more details.
Use Penny (or a Similar Service)
Services like Penny can help you find lost pensions automatically, using your personal information and job history to trace your pots across most workplace providers—including Scottish Widows.
No rifling through paperwork or long phone calls.
Quickly track down multiple pots at once.
This could be a great option if you suspect you have more than one pension that needs locating.
Ready to Track Down Your Scottish Widows Pension?
Whichever method you choose—online registration, a phone call, financial adviser, paperwork check, or using a pension-tracing service—gaining visibility of your retirement savings is always worthwhile. It ensures you know exactly where your money is and how it’s performing.
If you think you might have a Scottish Widows pension, why not start looking today? It’s one step closer to taking control of your retirement future.
