The four new payments will follow the successful launch last year of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grant, Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

The new benefits and payments are:

• Best Start Grant nursery age payment – a £250 payment that will be made to low income families around the time a child can start nursery
• Best Start Grant school payment – a £250 payment that will be made to low income families around the time a child can start school
• Funeral Expense Assistance – providing eligible low income families with a contribution towards the cost of a funeral.
• Young Carer Grant – The grant will be awarded to young carers aged 16 to 18 who do at least 16 hours of caring a week, but don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance. It will help to improve young carers’ quality of life, helping them take part in employment, social or leisure opportunities.

Social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This is a new public service for the people of Scotland. Since Social Security Scotland started making payments just three months ago it has been able to provide significant extra help to carers and low income families with young children.

“These are just the first steps in the delivery of our new social security system and in 2019 Social Security Scotland will start delivery of even more benefits to support people in our society.

“This government is determined to make further progress on tackling inequality and reducing poverty. Delivering our new social security system is a key part of that. We are establishing a system that is different to what people have known under the DWP. A service that is compassionate and is putting people at its heart. And we will continue the job of delivering that service based on dignity, fairness and respect in 2019.”