Find lost 401(k)s and pensions from old jobs

Use the Department of Labor's Retirement Savings Lost and Found and PBGC's search to track down retirement money from past employers.

Part of: How to find unclaimed money in your name (for free)

Real exampleNone verified yetGuide + prompt only.

Cost FreeEvery tool listed is free.

Time (estimate)20–40 min

Difficulty (estimate)MediumSome paperwork, phone calls or comparing options.

1. Copy this prompt

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Grok (the free versions work), then replace the [highlighted brackets] with your details. Leave out account numbers and SSNs.

Here's my work history: [EMPLOYERS + YEARS]. 1) Make a checklist of possible retirement plans I may have had, 2) tell me how to search DOL's Retirement Savings Lost and Found and PBGC's unclaimed benefits database, 3) draft a short letter to a former employer's HR or plan administrator asking whether I have a vested balance and how to claim it, and 4) explain my options (leave it, roll it to an IRA, roll it to my current plan) and the pros and cons of each.

2. Follow these steps

List every employer you've worked for with dates (ask AI to help reconstruct it from your resume or Social Security earnings record).
Search DOL (US Department of Labor) Lost and Found (sign in with Login.gov) and PBGC's database.
For each match, contact the plan administrator. AI can draft the letter.
Consider consolidating into a rollover IRA or your current plan (understand fees first).

Remember my checkmarks on this device (stored only in your browser; uncheck to erase)

What to expect, and what to do if they say no

What to expect

Searches need identity verification (Login.gov). Results may point you to a plan administrator to contact.
Old 401(k)s may have been rolled into an IRA in your name. Ask the former employer who the provider was.

If they say no

Contact the former employer's HR or the plan administrator on an old statement.
For a terminated pension, search the PBGC database.

What happened when people tried it

We haven't verified a real-world example for this one yet, so it's a tool guide plus a prompt. Tried it? Tell us what happened (link below).

Why this works

The problem: Job changes leave small 401(k)s and pensions behind, and plans lose track of people who move.

How AI helps: AI can reconstruct your job history into a checklist (employer, years, plan administrator), draft letters to old plan administrators and explain rollover options.

Tools & what they cost

Tool	Cost
DOL Retirement Savings Lost and Found Private-sector and union plans; not IRAs or government plans	Free (No cost at all) Free (Login.gov identity verification required)
PBGC unclaimed retirement benefits search	Free (No cost at all) Free

What do these labels mean?

Free No cost at all.
Free option available Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this.
Costs money You pay a set price or subscription.
Takes a cut of savings Charges a percentage of what it saves you.
Time · Difficulty Our estimates for a typical first try, not guarantees.
Reported What the linked source says happened, often self-reported. Your results will vary.

Watch out for

Tool-based entry; no AI-specific success story verified yet.
Never pay someone to 'find' your retirement money. These searches are free.

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Tell us what happened

Sources

Last verified 2026-10-19. Not financial, legal, tax or medical advice. Disclaimer.