PPI estimates over three million UK pension pots are 'lost', averaging about £6,000
New Pensions Policy Institute research, supported by the Money and Pensions Service, estimates more than three million UK pension pots are lost, worth about £6,000 on average. It was published ahead of National Pensions Tracing Day on 25 October.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) estimates that more than three million UK pension pots, with an average value of around £6,000, are "lost". Evening StandardN “More than three million UK pension pots, with an average value of around £6,000, are estimated to be “lost”, according to the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI).” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “More than three million UK pension pots, with an average value of around £6,000, are estimated to be “lost”” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1About 2.5 million of the lost pots are thought to belong to people under 55. The research was supported by the Government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). Evening StandardN “Around 2.5 million lost pots are thought to be held by people aged under 55, according to the research, supported by the Government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The average lost pot is £5,250 for people under 55 and about double that, £10,710, for those aged 55 to 74. Women's lost pots average around £5,370 against £6,830 for men. Evening StandardN “The average lost pot for people aged under 55 is £5,250 while for those aged 55 to 74 the amount is around double, at £10,710.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “Women’s lost pots are slightly lower than those belonging to men, at around £5,370 compared with £6,830” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2The research defined a lost pension as one where the provider cannot contact the owner. It drew on information from pension providers, and was highlighted ahead of National Pensions Tracing Day on 25 October. Evening StandardN “A lost pension was defined in the research as one where the provider is unable to contact the owner of the pot, with pension providers being approached for information which was used to compile the research.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “National Pensions Tracing Day on October 25” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Dr Suzy Morrissey, PPI deputy director, said lost pots "remain a significant issue for savers, providers and policymakers". Evening StandardN ““As the PPI’s new figures show, lost pension pots remain a significant issue for savers, providers and policymakers.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Oliver Morley, chief executive of MaPS, said the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard, expected to launch in financial year 2027-28, will help tackle the problem by giving a single overview of pensions, including ones people have lost touch with. Evening StandardN “The MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard being developed by MaPS, expected to launch in financial year 2027-28, will help tackle this problem.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “a dashboard will show pensions that people may have lost touch with.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2Tom Selby, public policy director at AJ Bell, said people often leave old workplace pensions behind when changing jobs. He said £6,000 can make a significant difference to retirement income, and that customers using AJ Bell's pension-finding tool found accounts worth an average of £18,500 combined. Evening StandardN “as people move jobs throughout their working lives, they often leave old workplace pensions behind, and over time it’s easy to lose track of them.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “customers using AJ Bell’s own pension-finding tool have tracked down accounts worth an average of £18,500” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Selby cautioned that combining pensions is not right for everyone, as older-style pensions can carry valuable guarantees that are lost on transfer. He suggested considering charges and service, possibly speaking to an adviser, and pointed to the Pension Tracing Service and pension-finding tools. Evening StandardN “Some older-style pensions can have valuable guarantees attached that will be lost on transfer, so checking whether this is the case is also crucial.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “Mr Selby said services such as the Pension Tracing Service and pension finding tools can already help to reunite people with lost pension pots.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Mirror presents the figures as a consumer 'pension alert', with a headline saying people 'lose £6,000 on average'.
- Emphasis
- The personal financial loss to savers; the body reproduces the same PPI, MaPS and AJ Bell quotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention that 'lost' means the provider cannot contact the owner until the middle of the article; the headline suggests money is being lost rather than mislaid.
- Charged language
- “New UK pension alert”“lose £6,000 on average”
- For example
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“A new pensions alert has been issued today.” — Daily Mirror
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard reports the research in a straightforward business-news style, leading with the PPI's age-group averages.
- Emphasis
- The age breakdown, expert quotes and practical advice on tracing and combining pots.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No independent sources beyond the PPI, MaPS and AJ Bell.
- Charged language
- “sitting on three million lost pots”
- For example
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“The average lost pension pot among people aged 55 to 74 is £10,710, the Pensions Policy Institute said.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- More than three million UK pension pots averaging about £6,000 are estimated to be lost, per the PPI.
- About 2.5 million lost pots belong to people under 55.
- Average lost pots are £5,250 (under 55) and £10,710 (55 to 74).
- The MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard is expected to launch in financial year 2027-28.
Pensions Policy Institute organisation
The PPI says its new figures show lost pots remain a significant issue for savers, providers and policymakers.
“lost pension pots remain a significant issue for savers, providers and policymakers.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
-
New UK pension alert as people 'lose £6,000 on average'
Mixed Near-identical content under an alert-style, consumer-warning headline.
Centre1 article
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Pension savers ‘sitting on three million lost pots worth average of £6,000’
Neutral Straight report of the PPI research with expert quotes and practical guidance.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 12 Oct 00:01 First Evening StandardN Pension savers ‘sitting on three million lost pots worth average of £6,000’
- 12 Oct 06:25 +6h 25m Daily MirrorL New UK pension alert as people 'lose £6,000 on average'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.