3,204. Who May Not Accept Charity

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 9:12

If someone lives in a city for 30 days, he is obligated to donate to the kupah (the weekly fund) along with all the residents of the city. If he lives there for three months, he must also donate to the tamchui. If he lives there for six months, he must donate to the fund used to clothe the city’s needy. If he lives there for nine months, he must donate to the fund used to bury the city’s needy and to provide their funeral needs.

Hilchos Matnos Aniyim 9:13

If someone has enough food for two meals, he is not permitted to take food from the tamchui; if he has enough food for fourteen meals, he may not take from the kupah. If a person has 200 zuz, even if he doesn’t do business with them, or if he has 50 zuz with which he does business, then he may not take shich’cha, peah or maaser ani (the tithe for the needy). If he has one dinar less than 200 zuz, then he is permitted to take these things. This is true even if 1,000 people give these gifts to him simultaneously. If he has cash but he owes a debt or his money is mortgaged to his wife’s kesubah, then he is allowed to take these gifts.