More than 160,000 of the North East's lowest income families will be worse off if Chancellor Jeremy Hunt 'moves the goalposts' and changes the way benefit rises are set in this week's Autumn Statement.

Poverty campaigners have warned that some households could lose as much as £500 in Universal Credit a year if the Government goes ahead with rumoured plans to change the month used to calculate next year's increase. Working-age benefits normally go up in line with the September inflation figure, which was 6.7%, to maintain living standards. But the Treasury may instead use October's much lower figure of 4.6%, which would save £3bn a year from April, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank.

According to Louise Murphy, economist at the Resolution Foundation, that would amount to 'moving the goalposts'. She says the £500 figure is how much a working family with three children could lose. The average figure UK-wide is £142, although families living in the North East's 19 Parliamentary constituencies would lose an average of £172 each. Worst affected would be the 21,200 households claiming Universal Credit in Newcastle North and Central, who would lose an average of £182 a year.

• Read more: This week's Autumn statement: When is it and what it will mean for you
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Working-age benefits normally go up in line with the September inflation figure, which was 6.7%, to maintain living standards. But the Treasury may instead use October's much lower figure of 4.6%, which would save £3bn a year from April, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank.

Most at risk are Universal Credit and Child Benefit, as these do not have the same triple-lock protection as pensions. Mr Hunt is expected to announce some rise in benefits as part of a package of measures in this week's Autumn Statement, but fears are growing that the Government may change the way increases are determined in a bid to cut costs.

Although Mr Hunt did not deny reports that the Government is considering using October's inflation figure to uprate benefits, he said the Government would be "compassionate" and the the welfare system needed to be reformed "because we believe that making work pay is a vital part of our economic success".

Here's how much households claiming Universal Credit stand to lose if the changes are implemented:

Newcastle

Newcastle North

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 8,200

Average lost if saving is implemented: £182

Newcastle Central

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 13,000

Average lost if saving is implemented: £182

Newcastle East

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 9,300

Average lost if saving is implemented: £173

Gateshead

Gateshead

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 11,000

Average lost if saving is implemented: £174

Blaydon

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 6,700

Average lost if saving is implemented: £171

Northumberland

Hexham

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 3,100

Average lost if saving is implemented: £166

Wansbeck

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 7,700

Average lost if saving is implemented: £168

Blyth Valley

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 7,400

Average lost if saving is implemented: £165

North Tyneside

Tynemouth

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 6,400

Average lost if saving is implemented: £170

North Tyneside

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 10,400

Average lost if saving is implemented: £169

South Tyneside

Jarrow

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 7,800

Average lost if saving is implemented: £174

South Shields

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 10,000

Average lost if saving is implemented: £170

Sunderland

Washington and Sunderland West

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 9,500

Average lost if saving is implemented: £172

Sunderland Central

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 10,200

Average lost if saving is implemented: £166

Houghton and Sunderland South

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 9,300

Average lost if saving is implemented: £173

County Durham

North Durham

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 8,100

Average lost if saving is implemented: £177

Durham City

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 5,500

Average lost if saving is implemented: £167

North West Durham

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 7,500

Average lost if saving is implemented: £168

Easington

Number of people claiming Universal Credit: 10,100

Average lost if saving is implemented: £179