The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has launched its Lost Pensions 2026 survey, expanding the research to include defined benefit (DB) schemes for the first time, as efforts continue to tackle the growing issue of lost pension pots.

The survey, supported by the Money and Pensions Service (Maps), builds on findings from 2024, which showed that more than 3.3 million pension pots worth £31.1bn are currently lost across the UK, underlining a significant and increasing challenge for both savers and the industry.

The latest iteration of the research will track how the lost pots landscape has evolved, including the number, value and age distribution of lost pensions, while also exploring the underlying drivers and implications for policy and saver outcomes.

It comes amid ongoing legislative developments, with the government’s Pension Schemes Bill proposing the introduction of multiple default consolidators for dormant defined contribution (DC) pots valued at up to £1,000.

PPI head of external relations and project lead, Danielle Elliott, said the expansion of the survey marked an important step in building a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

“Lost pensions remain a significant and growing issue, with millions of pots worth billions of pounds going unclaimed,” she stated.

“The PPI’s research plays a vital role in highlighting the scale of the problem, supporting policy development, and encouraging people to reconnect with their savings.

“By broadening the research in 2026, we aim to build a more complete picture of the pensions landscape and strengthen the evidence base across the industry.

"We encourage schemes to get behind this work by taking part in the surveys and helping to ensure the findings are as robust and representative as possible.”

Maps head of money and pensions policy, Anna Sharkey, added that the inclusion of DB pensions would provide valuable new insight into the scale of the issue.

“The existing scale of lost pensions across the UK demonstrates the importance of the upcoming pensions dashboards as a tool that will help reconnect people with lost pensions and strengthen people's engagement with their pensions,” she stressed.

Sharkey noted that the findings would help inform guidance on claiming lost pensions and support better member outcomes.

The survey is open until 26 June 2026, with the final report due for publication in October 2026.

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