What AVC schemes are and where to find yours

An AVC (Additional Voluntary Contribution) scheme is a workplace pension arrangement that lets you save extra money for retirement on top of your main pension. Your employer may offer one, or you may have one from a previous job. Finding yours means checking with your current employer's HR or payroll department, looking through old employment paperwork, or contacting the pension provider directly if you know their name.

Most people find their AVC through one of three routes: a letter or document from when they started the job, a benefits statement sent annually, or a conversation with HR. If you've changed jobs, you may have an AVC sitting with a former employer's scheme that you've forgotten about. Tracing it requires the same steps — contacting that employer or the pension provider named on any old documents you kept.

Key Takeaways

  • Your current employer's HR or payroll team can tell you when ready whether an AVC scheme is available and whether you're already enrolled in one.
  • Annual pension statements, payslips, or benefits documents often list AVC details, including the provider name and your account balance.
  • If you've left a job, contact that employer's HR department or search for documents with the pension provider's name to locate a dormant AVC.
  • The Pensions Regulator's Pension Tracing Service can help you find a lost AVC if you have limited information about the provider.
  • Once you locate your AVC, you can usually increase contributions, decrease them, or transfer the balance to another pension arrangement.

Checking with your current employer

The fastest way to find out whether an AVC is available to you is to ask your HR or payroll department directly. They hold records of all pension arrangements offered and can confirm whether you're currently contributing. Many employers mention AVC schemes in employee handbooks or benefits guides given during onboarding, so check any paperwork you received when you started.

If you're unsure who to contact, look at your payslip — it often lists the pension provider's name and shows whether contributions are being deducted. Your payslip may also show a reference number or account code for the scheme. Once you have the provider's name, you can contact them directly to confirm your AVC details, even if you're not sure about the exact scheme name.

Finding an AVC from a previous employer

If you left a job years ago and think you may have an AVC with that employer's scheme, start by contacting the HR or pension department of that former employer. They can search their records by your name and date of employment. Even if the company has changed ownership or closed, pension records are usually kept by a successor organisation or a dedicated pension administrator.

Look through any documents you kept from that job — offer letters, benefits guides, pension statements, or payslips. These often name the pension provider. Once you have the provider's name, you can contact them directly and they can search for your account using your name, date of birth, and the approximate dates you worked there. If you have a National Insurance number, include that too, as it speeds up the search.

Using the Pensions Regulator's Tracing Service

If you've lost touch with a former employer or can't find any documents naming the pension provider, the Pensions Regulator's Pension Tracing Service can help. This is a free government service that searches a database of workplace pension schemes. You provide details like your name, date of birth, and the name and approximate dates of employment with the company where you had the AVC.

The service does not may provide a result — if the scheme is very old or was never registered with the Regulator, it may not appear in the database. But it's worth trying before you assume the AVC is lost. You can access the Pension Tracing Service through the Pensions Regulator website. The search takes a few minutes and you'll receive results showing any schemes found under your details.

Reading your AVC statement and understanding what you have

Once you've located your AVC, your provider will send you an annual statement showing your current balance, contributions made that year, and investment performance. The statement also lists the investment options available to you — most AVCs let you choose how your money is invested, such as in stocks, bonds, or a balanced fund.

Your statement will show the provider's contact details and your account reference number. Keep this number handy if you need to make changes to your contributions or ask questions. Some providers also offer online access to your account, which you can set up by contacting them or visiting their website. Online access lets you check your balance and contribution history anytime without waiting for the annual statement.

Making changes to your AVC contributions

Once you know you have an AVC, you can usually increase your contributions, decrease them, or stop contributing altogether. The process varies by provider, but most let you make changes by contacting them directly, through an online portal, or by asking your employer's HR team to adjust the deduction from your payslip.

Before you make changes, check your AVC statement or contact the provider to understand any fees or restrictions. Some schemes charge a fee to increase contributions or may have limits on how much you can contribute in a year. Your provider can explain these rules and help you decide what changes make sense for your situation. If you're thinking about transferring your AVC balance to a different pension arrangement, ask the provider about transfer fees and the process involved.

What to do if you think an AVC exists but can't find it

If you're confident you had an AVC at a previous job but your search hasn't turned it up, try these steps in order. First, contact the HR department of that employer again and ask them to search more thoroughly, or ask for the name of the pension administrator who handles their scheme. Second, search any email archives you have from that job for pension-related messages or statements. Third, check whether the company was acquired or merged — the new owner may hold the pension records.

If those steps don't work, use the Pensions Regulator's Tracing Service as described above. If that also returns no results, it's possible the AVC was transferred to another pension arrangement (such as a personal pension) at some point, or the scheme records were archived long ago. In that case, contact the Pensions Regulator directly to ask for further guidance — they can sometimes help trace schemes that don't appear in the standard search.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one AVC?

Yes. You can have an AVC with your current employer's scheme and also hold AVCs from previous employers. Each one is a separate account with its own balance and investment choices. You can manage them independently, though you may want to consolidate them into one arrangement for simplicity.

What happens to my AVC if I leave my job?

Your AVC stays with the scheme and continues to be invested. You don't have to do anything when ready. You can leave it there, increase or decrease contributions if the scheme allows, or transfer the balance to a personal pension or your new employer's scheme. Contact the provider to discuss your options.

Is there a time limit to find a lost AVC?

No legal time limit exists, but the older the scheme, the harder it may be to trace. Pension records are kept for many years, but very old schemes may have been wound up or merged. Start searching as soon as you think you may have a lost AVC — the sooner you act, the easier the trace usually is.

Do I need to pay to find my AVC?

No. Contacting your employer, the pension provider, or the Pensions Regulator's Tracing Service is free. Be cautious of third-party companies that charge fees to trace pensions — you can do this yourself at no cost.

What if my AVC provider has gone out of business?

Pension schemes are protected by law. If a provider closes, your money is transferred to another authorised provider or scheme. Contact the Pensions Regulator if you can't find where your AVC was moved to — they can help trace it.