More than 100,000 people in Scotland are not claiming tax credits they are entitled to, according to figures released by Scottish Labour.

The figures come a week after the Scottish Parliament received newly devolved powers allowing the creation of new benefits in Scotland.

Over the next few years around 15% of all current welfare spending in Scotland will eventually be administered through a new Scottish social security agency.

Labour's social security spokesman Mark Griffin is calling on the Scottish Government to use newly devolved welfare powers to encourage the uptake of benefits.

Griffin said: "Making sure, in law, that cash goes to the people who are entitled to it could make a huge difference. Thousands of families across Scotland are one big unexpected bill away from really struggling.

"Too many are having to choose between putting money in the gas meter or feeding their kids. We can change that.

"Scottish Labour want a country where people get the help they need.

"That's why we are calling on the SNP to make it a legal requirement that government does everything it can to make people aware of all the support they are entitled to."

In January, the First Minister's adviser on poverty Naomi Eisenstadt recomended in a report that the government does "more to ensure that people claim the benefits they are entitled to".

Social security minister Jeanne Freeman told STV News that increasing awareness of entitlements will be "key" to the upcoming Social Securty Bill which she will put forward.

Freeman said: "We are currently consulting extensively on a Social Security Bill which will be the foundation for how we use our new social security powers.

"Making sure people know and understand the support they are entitled to will be a key part of our work going forward.

"We have committed to using our new powers to take a different approach from the UK Government and develop policies based on dignity and respect which will help remove the stigma attached to accessing benefits."