XML 69 R56.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Derivative Instruments (Open Credit Default Swap Liabilities) (Details) - Open Credit Default Swap Liabilities [Member] $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item
Summary Of Credit Derivatives |  |  |
Number of instruments | item |  | 1 | 2
Fair value | [1] | $ 1 |
Maximum potential payout |  | $ 56 | $ 40
3/20/2017 maturity |  |  |
Summary Of Credit Derivatives |  |  |
Credit rating of underlying obligation | [2] |  | BBB+
Number of instruments | item |  |  | 2
Maximum potential payout |  |  | $ 40
6/20/2022 maturity |  |  |
Summary Of Credit Derivatives |  |  |
Credit rating of underlying obligation | [2] | BBB+ |
Number of instruments | item |  | 1 |
Fair value | [1] | $ 1 |
Maximum potential payout |  | $ 56 |
[1] | Broker quotes are used to determine the market value of our credit default swaps.Credit default swaps were entered into in order to hedge the liability exposure on certain variable annuity products.Sellers do not have the right to demand indemnification or compensation from third parties in case of a loss (payment) on the contract.
[2] | Represents average credit ratings based on the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings, as scaled to the corresponding S&P ratings.

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_DisclosureOfCreditDerivativesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that could be required under the credit derivative, before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4K -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5708775-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Credit Derivative -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6854095 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value of credit risk derivative liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73719730&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4K -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5708775-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Description of the credit rating indicative of likelihood of repayment of the debt instrument given by a credit rating agency (for example, Standard and Poor's, Moody's, Fitch). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCreditRating
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of credit risk derivative instruments held. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5579245-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5580258-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfCreditRiskDerivativesHeld
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativesByContractTypeAxis=us-gaap_CreditDefaultSwapSellingProtectionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=lnc_Maturity3202017Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=lnc_Maturity6202022Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |