Shared Parental Leave - Confused!

[person1new]

Hi there,

My husband and I are expecting at the end of this year and unfortunately I work for a very small company with no HR team so am struggling to find advice on maternity leave and pay. I qualify for SMP and my husband gets enhanced Paternity pay and shared parental leave for up to 18 weeks. I was hoping to take 39 weeks paid SMP, but ideally my husband would also have 4 weeks off alongside me in the middle. Can anyone tell me how this would work or advise on the best way to do this? We want to be off together, but I can't afford to lose 4 weeks pay in the middle of my leave? Can I continue getting SMP and return to work at week 35 instead of 39? Or, does his enhanced pay mean that I can take the full 39 weeks stat and he can take 4 weeks on top of that alongside me?

Any advise very welcome and appreciated!!
Thanks!
S x