Did an Old Job Owe You a Pension? Check This Free Federal Search

There may be a pension waiting with your name on it

If you worked somewhere years ago that offered a pension, that money might still be owed to you. Sometimes a company closes, moves, or ends its pension plan and loses track of the people it owes.

When that happens, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a federal agency, can end up holding those pensions. PBGC keeps a free online search so people can find money that belongs to them.

This is not a scam and it is not a loan. It is retirement money you already earned. Checking is free, and no one should ever charge you to search.

Who ends up in the database

People land in the unclaimed pension list for simple reasons. Maybe you changed jobs, moved to a new address, or changed your name after marriage or divorce. The plan may have tried to reach you and could not.

It also includes workers whose employer's pension plan ended. If the company could not find you when the plan closed, your benefit may have been turned over to PBGC.

You do not have to be retired yet to appear. Some people are years away from retirement age but are still owed a benefit that is waiting for them.

You can also check a late relative's name

If a parent or spouse worked at a company with a pension and has passed away, you may be able to search their name too. A surviving spouse or other beneficiary can sometimes claim a benefit that was never paid out.

It costs nothing to look. Searching a loved one's name can be a simple way to see if any retirement money was left behind.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to search?

No. The PBGC search is completely free. If a company asks you to pay to find or release your pension, that is a warning sign. Go straight to the official PBGC site instead.

I am not retired yet. Should I still check?

Yes. You can appear in the database even if you are years from retirement. Finding your benefit now means PBGC knows how to reach you when the time comes.

Can I search for a family member who died?

Yes. You can search a late relative's name. As a surviving spouse or beneficiary, you may be able to claim a benefit that was never paid.

Is OpenFinancial part of PBGC?

No. OpenFinancial is not a government agency and not a bank. We point you to the free official PBGC search so you can check and claim directly.