ILR START DATE AND IN PERSON APPLICATION

Hi,

I have a few queries on the ILR application for Tier 2, as follows:

1. My Tier 1 Post Study Work Visa which I held before moving to Tier 2 General was to expire on 28 August 2012. Tier 2 application was submitted almost a month before that via postal option but when the Tier 2 Visa was issued its date on the BRP Card was 10 October 2012. My first question is that what date would my Tier 2 leave be considered as started (is it 28/29 August or 10 October)
2. Can I apply for an in person application 28 days before completion of my 5 year period?
3. Lastly and most importantly, my wife and son had to make 2 trips back to our home country which were more than 90 days, actually the first one in 2013 was a week or two more than 6 months whereas the other one in 2016 lasted for almost 5 months. The reason for the extended trip in 2013 was that my wife had a few complications at the time of my son's birth in 2013 and to allow her to recover and get support from her family I had no option but to let her stay back. Would this impact the prospects for her getting ILR when she completes her 5 years as a Tier 2 dependant later in the year?

1 10 oct
2 yes. 28 days before 10 oct
3. no problem.