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Statutory Financial Information, Capital Requirements, and Restrictions on Dividends and Transfers of Funds (Dividends) (Details) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Statutory adjusted capital in excess of authorized risk based capital ratio | 4.5 |
Retained earnings | $ 1,202,015,000 | $ 1,125,154,000
Ordinary dividends paid | 21,100,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 11,000,000 |
Total dividends paid | 32,100,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 126,700,000 |
Maximum borrowing percentage | 10.00% |
Selective Insurace Company of America (SICA) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 6,000,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 11,000,000 |
Total dividends paid | 17,000,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 46,300,000 |
Selective Way Insurance Company (SWIC) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 6,300,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 6,300,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 25,000,000 |
Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina (SICSC) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 1,000,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 1,000,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 11,200,000 |
Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast (SICSE) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 1,500,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 1,500,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 8,200,000 |
Selective Insurance Company of New York (SICNY) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,400,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 2,400,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 7,900,000 |
Selective Insurance Company of New England (SICNE) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,000,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 2,000,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 3,500,000 |
Selective Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey (SAICNJ) [Member] |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 1,900,000 |
Extraordinary dividends paid | 0 |
Total dividends paid | 1,900,000 |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 6,800,000 |
Mesa Underwriting Specialty Insurance Company (MUSIC) [Member] |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 6,200,000 |
Selective Casualty Insurance Company (SCIC) [Member] |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 8,100,000 |
Selective Fire and Casualty Insurance Company (SFCIC) [Member] |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 3,500,000 |
Parent Company [Member] |  |
Investment Portfolio | 71,000,000 |
Retained earnings | 1,200,000,000 |
Additional Borrowing Capacity for Parent | $ 30,000,000 |

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- Definition The additional borrowing capacity for the Parent from the Indiana Subsidiaries. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries, by unconsolidated subsidiaries, and by 50% or less owned persons accounted for using the equity method. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents disclosure of the extraordinary dividends paid to the parent company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Investment Portfolio available to fund future dividents and interest payments + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The maximum collaterized borrowing percentage from SISE and SISC admitted assets + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents disclosure of the ordinary dividends paid to the parent company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of statutory adjusted capital in excess of the authorized control level risk-based capital computed using statutory accounting practices prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 31 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31(a)(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of dividends that can be declared or paid with approval of regulatory agency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph e -Article 4 + Details
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