This short checklist suggests free routes worth investigating. It does not search accounts, calculate entitlement, submit claims or confirm that money is owed. Pension tracing is not a cash payout.
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Use free, direct checking routes
Official services and the industry’s My Lost Account service can help you investigate. Have old paperwork ready on your own device; follow the service’s current requirements and deadlines. Check the domain before entering identifying information. Do not pay a fee to unlock a promised refund or follow an unsolicited message asking for banking details.
- My Lost Account
- GOV.UK: pension contact details
- GOV.UK: tax refund routes
- NS&I: prize checker
- Citizens Advice: energy credit refunds
- Ofgem: closed energy accounts
- GOV.UK: find a Child Trust Fund
Routes reviewed: 6 October 2026. A recovered payment is usually one-off money; keep it separate from recurring income in your extra-money plan. If you need help with essentials now, see where to get free help.