You've answered your own question, indeed it is income based, not asset based. As stated he keeps his income low so he can qualify for the Child benefit. For example say you've had a 500k a year job for 10 years and managed to save a million or two of it and then you're "made redundant". You now have zero employment income and as long as your savings aren't earning a ton of interest or dividends, or are in registered accounts where it doesn't matter what they make, you can go on EI, and qualify for a whole whack of benefits despite having a war chest of cash. Justly so I might add, you've likely paid 1.5-2.5 million in taxes and source deductions over that 10 year period, why shouldn't you get some benefit from all the taxes you've paid.