Lost Pension & Unclaimed Benefits Finder
If an old employer closed, merged or lost your address, a pension or retirement account may be held under your name. Three official databases let you search for free.
Three free, official databases cover three kinds of lost money. PBGC's Unclaimed Pensions search covers traditional defined-benefit pensions from plans that ended. The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits covers 401(k)-style accounts left with a former employer. Unclaimed.org (NAUPA) covers other property held by state treasuries, such as forgotten bank accounts and uncashed checks. None of them charges to search or to claim.
Each database holds a different pool of money, so search all three. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
Search for Your Money
PBGC Unclaimed Pensions: start here for a traditional pension
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation insures private-sector defined-benefit pension plans. When a plan ends and the administrator can't locate every participant, PBGC's Missing Participants Program holds the benefit until it's claimed. Search by last name and the last four digits of your Social Security number; the database is updated regularly.
Search PBGC Unclaimed Pensions →National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits: for 401(k)s and similar accounts
A nationwide database employers and plan administrators use to report retirement account holders they've lost contact with, most often 401(k) and other defined-contribution accounts rather than traditional pensions. Search is free and requires only your Social Security number.
Search the National Registry →Unclaimed.org (NAUPA): for other kinds of property
Run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, this searches state treasury databases for forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, and insurance payouts, in every state where you have lived. Search it as well as the two retirement databases above.
Search Unclaimed.org →| Database | What it covers | Run by | Search covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBGC Unclaimed Pensions | Traditional pensions from plans that ended | Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency | Nationwide |
| National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits | 401(k) and similar accounts whose owners could not be found | A private registry used by employers and plan administrators | Nationwide |
| Unclaimed.org (NAUPA) | Bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, insurance payouts, deposits | State treasuries, through their national association | One state at a time, or several through the multi-state search |
Traditional pensions. A defined-benefit pension, which promises a monthly payment for life, is usually insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. When a plan ends and the sponsor cannot find everyone owed a benefit, PBGC's Missing Participants Program holds the money. There is no deadline to claim it.
401(k) accounts. A 401(k) is your money in your name. If the plan administrator loses touch with you, usually after a move, the account may be reported to the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. PBGC does not insure this type of plan. Small balances are sometimes moved into an IRA opened in your name, and the registry or the old plan administrator can tell you where it went.
Unclaimed property. States hold security deposits, insurance payouts, dormant bank accounts, uncashed paychecks and utility refunds, and sometimes retirement money that ended up there. Each state has its own database, so search every state where you have lived or worked.
Before you search, gather what you can: the employer's name and any earlier names, the years you worked there, your Social Security number, names you have used, and past addresses. Old W-2s, pay stubs or plan statements help. Your Social Security earnings record lists your past employers.
If the company still exists, call its human resources or benefits office first and ask for the plan administrator. For a pension you may be owed by a deceased spouse or parent, search under that person's name and Social Security number. Survivors can often claim.
Never pay a finder. Searching and claiming through these official sites is free. Anyone who asks for a fee to "release" money they say they found for you is not part of these systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a pension from a job I left years ago?
If it was a traditional defined-benefit pension that may have ended, start with PBGC's Unclaimed Pensions search. If it was a 401(k) or similar account, check the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. Both are free and can be searched by name or Social Security number.
What is PBGC and why would they have my pension?
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is a federal agency that insures private-sector defined-benefit pension plans. When a plan ends and the administrator cannot find every participant, PBGC's Missing Participants Program holds the money until the owner claims it. There is no fee and no time limit.
Is the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits free and legitimate?
Yes. It is a nationwide database that former employers and plan administrators use to report retirement account holders they cannot locate. Searching is free and requires only your Social Security number.
What if my old employer went out of business or was acquired?
These databases exist for that situation. If a defined-benefit pension plan was terminated, PBGC may have taken it over. If a 401(k)-style plan's records were transferred in a merger or the company dissolved, check the National Registry first.
Is unclaimed property the same as an unclaimed pension?
No. Unclaimed property is held by each state's treasury or comptroller and can be searched at unclaimed.org. It covers forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks and insurance payouts. Search it as well as the two retirement databases.
Do I need to search every state I've lived in?
For unclaimed property, yes. Each state has its own database, and unclaimed.org can search participating states together. PBGC and the National Registry are nationwide, so one search of each is enough.
This page links to official, free databases run by a federal agency, a national registry and NAUPA. This site is not affiliated with PBGC, the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits or NAUPA, and has no access to your funds. Searching and claiming through the official links above is free. Be cautious of any service that charges a fee to "locate" or "release" unclaimed money for you.