National insurance credits

[LondonLass61]

Hello. I wonder if anyone can tell me about this - bear with me and I hope it makes sense.
I had two children - in 87 and 91 and I have always worked and paid National insurance. I also claimed child benefit for them up to the age of 18. I understand that Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was a scheme to help protect parents' and carers' State Pension. It has been replaced with National Insurance credits for parents and carers.
So - if I hadn't worked and paid National Insurance, I would have received HRP towards my state pension for the years that I claimed child benefit. But working mothers who both pay NI and are eligible for HRP - why don't we receive any extra state pension?
I did ring HMRC and they were very vague - told me to write to the pensions minister which I did, but he never replied.
TIA

If child benefit is claimed when you are not working, only the years up to your youngest is 12 count.

That perhaps doesn't answer your question but is good to know.

HRP was literally a back up to ensure mostly women carers still qualify for a state pension if they don't work or work minimal hours because of caring responsibilities, both ordinary (raising a child) and extraordinary (caring for someone with disabilities).

It's not to penalise us for working, it's a safety net for those who cannot.

Remember these are people who can very rarely afford to pay into a private pension scheme so the option of additional income at pensionable age is massively reduced...whereas most working people make some sort of contribution into a pension scheme - even if it's not brilliantly generous it is extra income.

It’s designed to make sure you are not disadvantaged by looking after dependents not to put you ahead of people who don’t need the extra protection.

There are people who have never claimed child benefit, why would you be entitled to more than they are?

Sorry, are you saying you deserve more state pension just because you had children and claimed benefit for them?

I’m childless net contributor to the state. Maybe I should request a scheme that means my selflessness and baron state is rewarded when I get to pension age.

I'd like to be clear that it's not just to do with child benefit, this also applies to childless/child free people who care for elderly parents (as I have) but were still working.

Thank you for your replies.