What Happens to Your Pension When You Change Jobs?
Changing jobs should be a step forward — not a reason to lose sight of your retirement savings.
Yet for millions of UK workers, that’s exactly what happens.
Every time you start with a new employer, a new workplace pension may be set up in your name.
It sounds harmless until you realise that years later, you’ve accumulated half a dozen small pots scattered across providers you barely remember.
The Pensions Policy Institute estimates there are now more than 2.8 million “lost” or inactive pension pots in the UK, worth over £26 billion.
That’s not mismanagement — it’s fragmentation, and it’s built into how the system currently works.
“Workers switching jobs often end up with several small pension pots. These can be difficult to track, manage and combine later.”
— Department for Work and Pensions (source)
One Pension, Many Jobs
The principle of portability is simple: your pension belongs to you, not your employer.
When a worker keeps the same provider across multiple roles, contributions continue seamlessly, no matter how often payrolls change.
Instead of building tiny, dormant accounts across the industry, you maintain a single growing pot — easier to track, easier to manage, and far more efficient.
PKL Pensions exists to make that possible.
Our platform allows workers to stay with whichever approved provider they prefer, while employers remain fully compliant with auto-enrolment rules.
That independence gives both sides freedom without adding complexity.
Why It Matters
Every pension left behind costs time, fees, and sometimes lost growth.
Tracking down forgotten accounts can be slow and frustrating, and transferring them later may involve extra paperwork or missed opportunities.
A single, continuous pension record keeps your savings visible and secure — no matter how your career evolves.
The government’s Pensions Dashboard initiative will soon allow savers to view all their schemes in one place, but workers don’t have to wait for it.
Platforms like PKL Pensions already apply the same logic: one source of truth, one provider, and complete transparency.
Keeping Control
For workers, the simplest way to protect your savings is to stay informed.
Know your provider’s name, keep your contact details up to date, and tell them when you move.
Employers can help by supporting systems that respect worker choice and portability rather than resetting the clock every time someone joins the payroll.
A portable pension isn’t just a convenience — it’s financial continuity.
It keeps your future intact, even as your career changes direction.
