Benefits whilst on SMP -- please help!!

Hello,

First so sorry for long thread. I have never claimed any benefit before and have lots of questions so have put as much info as possible into this!!

I am struggling to budget for my maternity leave that starts 31st Decemeber 2012. I am trying to figure how long I can afford to have off work you see.
I have opted for work benefits that run 1st Jan-31st December 2013 that will reduce my salary through salary sacrifice.

More info about me:

I am 24 years old. My 1st baby is due 23rd January and my Maternity starts 31st December. I would like 12 months maternity but depends on if I can afford it. My work is full time and 37 hours per week.

I live in eccles in the salford council area, I am a private tenant in a 2 bed property at £475 per month and annual council tax bill of £776 (discounted by 25%). I am going to register on the housing for a cheaper property once baby is born.

For tax purposes I would claim as a single parent as it is just me and my soon to be here daughter.

My childcare costs will be nil in 2013/14 due to childcare vouchers I will accrue jan-dec 2013= £243* 12= £2,916
and my childcare cost will be approx 15 weeks if I return to work full time in Jan, the vouchers cover for 18 weeks childcare just in case I have to return to work early. weekly nursery cost £160.


My Income over the my maternity

2012/13 - Tax year- estimated total salary £24,700. (9 months at £2017 and 3 month at £1757)

Maternity Start Date 31st December 2012.
Jan-March 2013 - 6 weeks higher SMP and 7 weeks full pay. So £1757 pm x 3 = £5,271


2013/14 Tax year

My Salary is £24,931
Sunshine (£930.46)<<<Salary Sacrifice to get extra 2 weeks pay over the year
Tots (£2,916) <<< Salary Sacrifice for childcare vouchers (i wish to accrue these until I return to work)
New Salary: £21,084 << from 1st Jan 2013-31st Dec 2013



****From April 1st until 30th September: I will get 26 weeks Lower SMP £135.45 = £3,522

****From 1st October- 30th December - nil pay

Whilst on Maternity I am entitled to up to 31st December:

25 days holiday pay = £2,027
10 additional days due to salary sacrifice pay = £811
Upto 10 KIT days = £811

Total: £3,649

So from April 1st until 30th Dec 2013 my total Maternity and entitlements per above come to £7,171.

From Jan 2014 - I will have stopped childcare vouchers as I think I will be better of in 2014/15 with child tax credits, my childcare costs will be 47 weeks @ £160 = £7,520. I will still take salary sacarifice for the extra time off. Estimating inflation into this I presume my Jan 2014 Salary to be £25,000

RTW Bonus 6 weeks pay from £21084 = £2,432 << payable if I returned to work full time or it will be prorated.

Jan- March 2014 Salary (£25,000/12)*3 =£6,250

So when I return to work my Salary will be = £8,682

Total Income for 2013/14 is £15,853

I will also be paying 3% Pension Contributions from April 2013 on my pay (exc bonus)

Estimated pension cont : (15853-2432= 13421* 3%) £403


Please could you help me with my Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit? When does Salford come into Universal Credit. It could be I am unable to afford the full 12 months off work you see and really need help budgeting for this but universal credit has made this very difficult to calculate and I am unsure as to how Housing benefit entitlement works?

I wanted to know my entitlements to Housing benefit and Council tax benefit If any between April 2013 and Decemeber 2013. Is this based on a yearly assessment of income of month by month basis?
When I enter my total income of £15,853 with pension deductions of £403, Salford online calculated advises me no benefit is payable.

Is the full £135.45 of weekly SMP classed as income for HB and tax credit calculations?

How will Universal credit affect me?

I wanted to use my holiday pay when my pay hit nil pay from October, but without entitlement to housing benefit I will prob have to take the holiday pay earlier to cover my rent.

If I returned to work 1 month earlier and my pay increased a furthur £1757 how would this affect me? I didnt want to return to early with the cost of childcare.

I think my tax credits will be £69.69 weekly, but have no idea with all the welfare reform?


Apologies if I have repeated my questions more than once above.

Really interested in your response.

Thanks

Laura