We collect zakah to distribute it to our poor, so we give the poor person the money in installments because some of them do not know how to manage it

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: We are one of the families that collect zakah from our wealthy people to distribute it to our poor. We allocate a specific amount for each poor person, but we do not give them the full amount in one lump sum; rather, we give it to them in monthly installments because some of them do not know how to manage it. The question is: What is the ruling on our doing this?

Answer:
It is not permissible to withhold zakah. Zakah is paid out at its time and given to the eligible recipients, and they dispose of it as they wish. As for you withholding it and saying, "I will give it to them little by little," this is withholding zakah and is not permissible. Yes, except if you are their guardian. If the poor person is a minor or has a guardian, you give it to him and he spends it on him little by little, and there is no harm in that. As for the agent who is between the zakah payers and the poor, an intermediary agent, he does not withhold the zakah from the poor. He obtains it for them immediately, and they dispose of it. And the minors, their guardians give it to them. Yes.