XML 25 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15

Investments (OTTI by Asset Type) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
OTTI Losses Gross	$ 2,693	$ 4,091	$ 3,062	$ 16,326
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	150	1,284	(280)	(905)
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	2,543	2,807	3,342	17,231
Equity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross	2,312	1,825	2,312	2,497
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	2,312	1,825	2,312	2,497
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross			17
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income			0
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings			17
Corporate Securities [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross			244
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income			0
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings			244
Asset-backed Securities ("ABS") [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross	543		543	158
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	493		493	127
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	50		50	31
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities ("CMBS") [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross	(184)	2,116	(370)	5,561
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	(316)	1,245	(974)	(807)
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	132	871	604	6,368
Average unrealized unrecognized loss as compared to amortized cost percentage		60.00%		60.00%
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities ("RMBS") [Member] | Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross	22	150	316	8,110
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	(27)	39	201	(225)
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	49	111	115	8,335
Number of Impairments due to intent to sell				2
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member]
OTTI Losses Gross	381	2,266	750	13,829
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities recognized in other comprehensive income	150	1,284	(280)	(905)
OTTI Losses Recognized in Earnings	$ 231	$ 982	$ 1,030	$ 14,734

X

- Definition

The average unrealized/unrecognized loss in comparison to the securities' amortized cost.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_AverageUnrealizedUnrecognizedLossAsComparedToAmortizedCostPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	sigi
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item represents the number of investments which made up the impairment losses for debt and equity securities recognized in earnings for the reporting periods due to the Company's intent to sell.

+ Details

Name:	sigi_NumberOfImpairmentsDueToIntentToSell
Namespace Prefix:	sigi
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15C

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15D

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 16

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 16B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 34

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6956420&loc=d3e25351-111560



Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-2/124-2

-Paragraph 22

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss on a debt security, categorized as either Available-for-sale or Held-to-maturity, related to factors other than credit losses when the entity does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. This amount, which includes the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest, if any, is deducted from the total impairment losses of investments (before taxes) presented on the income statement; this amount is also referred to as the amount incurred by the reporting entity or the consolidated entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15D

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 16B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 130

-Paragraph 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15C

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 16B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15C

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 15D

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration