5. It is forbidden to say about another that he is weak, if this can cause him harm, for instance, he is a laborer or the like. Likewise, it is forbidden to say about another that he is poor, in a way that can cause him harm.
6. The prohibition of lashon hara is determined according to the person one’s speaking about. Therefore to say about a poor man that he gives a certain amount to charity, it may be considered admirable, whereas to say about someone wealthy that he too gives that amount to charity, it will be considered derogatory. Even when the speaker does not mind if one would speak that way about him, for example when the speaker himself is poor and he speaks about someone rich, it is still forbidden, since the information is derogatory regarding the person that he’s speaking about.
