Find Your Lost Retirement Money — Article #1
How to Find a Lost 401(k): Start With the Department of Labor
Worked for a company years ago and don't know what happened to your 401(k)? Follow these steps to search the U.S. Department of Labor's Retirement Savings Lost and Found.
If you've worked for several companies over the years, you may have an old 401(k), pension, or other retirement benefit you've forgotten about.
Maybe you remember contributing to one but don't know where it is.
Maybe the company changed names, merged, closed, or you simply haven't thought about that job in 20 years.
Let's start looking.
I'm going to walk you through this one step at a time.
For our first search, we're going to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Before You Start — Have These Ready
You may need:
- Your Social Security number
- Your legal first and last name
- Your date of birth
- Your phone
- A current state-issued driver's license or identification card
IMPORTANT: You will be entering sensitive information. Make sure you are using the official U.S. government website ending in .gov. Do not enter your Social Security number into a website from an unsolicited email, text message, social media message, or advertisement.
Step 1
Go to the Department of Labor website
Go to the official:
U.S. Department of Labor
Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database
Official U.S. government website: lostandfound.dol.gov
Once you're there, look for the option to sign in with Login.gov.
Step 2
Sign in with Login.gov
The Department of Labor needs to verify that you are really you before allowing you to search using your Social Security number.
If you already have a Login.gov account, sign in.
If you don't have one, follow the instructions to create an account.
Don't worry if you've never used Login.gov before. Just follow the instructions on the screen one step at a time.
Step 3
Verify your identity
Login.gov may require information to verify your identity. Follow the instructions shown by Login.gov.
Depending on the verification process, you may be asked for identifying information and/or an acceptable state-issued ID. Requirements can change, so always follow what the official screen tells you.
You will never be asked to enter personal information on RetirementWithAngela.com. Everything sensitive happens on the government site.
Step 4
Return to the Retirement Savings Lost and Found
After identity verification is completed, continue back to the Department of Labor Retirement Savings Lost and Found.
Follow the Department of Labor instructions shown on your screen.
Step 5
Search for your retirement plan
The Department of Labor's search uses your verified identity and Social Security number to look for retirement plans associated with you.
Follow the on-screen instructions and select Search when prompted.
Remember: You are searching for a retirement plan associated with you. Finding a match does not automatically mean money is currently waiting for you.
Step 6
Look at your results
If a retirement plan appears, write it down or safely save:
- Former employer or plan name
- Plan administrator
- Contact information provided
- Any instructions shown by the Department of Labor
Found something?
Great — but you're not finished yet.
A result may indicate that you participated in a retirement plan. It does not necessarily mean that money is currently owed to you.
The next step is contacting the plan administrator.
Step 7
Contact the plan administrator
Use the contact information provided in your search results.
Here's a simple example of what to say:
“I'm a former employee, and the Department of Labor Retirement Savings Lost and Found showed that I participated in this retirement plan. I'm trying to determine whether I still have retirement benefits associated with the plan.”
Have your identification available, because the plan administrator will need to verify your identity.
Do not send sensitive information through regular email unless the plan administrator provides a secure method and you have verified that you are communicating with the legitimate administrator.
Step 8
Write down what you learn
Keep one simple record for every employer you search:
- Employer
- Years you worked there
- Retirement plan
- Plan administrator
- Phone number
- Date you contacted them
- Who you spoke with
- What they told you
- Next step
- Follow-up date
Keep this information with your retirement records.
No results? Don't stop here.
Not finding something in the Department of Labor database does not necessarily mean you didn't have a retirement account.
This is only our first search.
There are several other places we can look.
Next: Article #2
Search for Lost Retirement Benefits Through PBGC
Article #2 — Coming NextWhat can this search help you find?
The Department of Labor Retirement Savings Lost and Found is intended to help people locate certain retirement plans from private-sector employers and unions.
It may help identify plans such as:
- 401(k) plans
- Certain pension plans
- Other covered employer-sponsored retirement plans
It is not a general search for:
- Social Security benefits
- Personal IRAs
- Government employee retirement plans
Your Retirement Homework
Today, do just two things:
- Make your list of old employers.
- Complete the Department of Labor search.
You don't have to find everything today.
We're going to work through the different places to search one step at a time.
Find Your Lost Retirement Money
Article #1
Department of Labor
You are here ✓
Article #2
PBGC
Coming next
Article #3
Contacting Old Employers & Plan Administrators
Coming soon
Article #4
State Unclaimed Property
Coming soon
Article #5
Searching Old Records
Coming soon
Article #6
I Found My Old 401(k). Now What?
Coming soon
Ready to keep going?
The Retirement Reset Journal gives you the pages to log every employer, every call, and every follow-up date in one place. Or start free with the Day One Retirement Inventory below.
Educational Disclaimer: Retirement Roadmap with Angela provides general educational information and is not individualized financial, tax, investment or legal advice. Government programs and procedures can change. Verify current requirements with the appropriate government agency or a qualified professional.