Can anyone advise universal credit/child tax free

[username194841]

Really confused with how it all works. I have made a claim for universal credit as I am on the last couple of months of maternity leave which is unpaid. I should hopefully be returning to work 7th December.
I apparently should be get my first payment from UC tomorrow. (My assessment period was between the 8th Oct to 8th Nov). I should apparently recieve a payment from UC on the 12th of each month now.
My first question is when do I tell them my return to work date? Since I return to work the 6th December I assume I need to tell them soon. Will this mean I will won't get a payment on the 12th December? Even though I won't get paid by my company until end of month which won't be a full wage?

Secondly I have a 3year old who has 30 free hours at nursery and I used the tax free childcare. I went to renew the code this morning and changed my details to claiming universal credit I now realise I can not claim the tax free childcare at the same time. It's making me worry I have made a mistake claiming the UC. As from December my UC will stop and I will want to use tax free childcare as I will then have two children in childcare. Can I just tell them then I am no longer on universal credit and instantly get back the tax free childcare or do I have to wait?

Uc is paid in arrears. Inform them that you have gone back to work on the day you return. Uc is calculated on any earnings reported by your employer within your assessment period dates. The Uc payment you receive seven days after the end of your assessment period will reflect what has been reported. Your payment date cannot be 12th Nov. if your assessment period ends on the 8th, it is always seven days later.

I'm not sure about the childcare issue ? Has your child continued going to Nursery whilst you have been on mat leave ? There isn't a problem with this whilst you were getting SMP but I'm not sure how childcare claims are affected if you choose to take an extra 3 months unpaid ? Hopefully someone else can explain.

Thank you @Babyroobs yes your right sorry assessment period was 6th to 5th paid on the 12th.

I'd do a proper calculation and check whether you're better off remaining on UC with the Childcare Element or closing your UC claim and reopening your Tax Free Childcare account. You can't get both (there can be a slight overlap at the end of a Job etc but that's it).