asalam alaikum wr wb,

Well I've heard scholars say that we shouldn't give them money since they receive help from the government. That makes sense. But then I've also heard that some ruthless private landlords only let property to these people on the condition that they hand their benefits to them. A lot of these people don't speak English and don't know their rights end up begging on the streets. The police are aware of the beggers, but unless something is done about them and the landlords, it feels rude to turn away a begger woman with a baby in her arms - especially if you're not sure whether she's being exploited or not. I don't know whether this would change the scholars' opinion or not.

wa alaikum asalam wr wb.