XML 144 R117.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Statutory Financial Information, Capital Requirements, and Restrictions on Dividends and Transfers of Funds (Dividends) (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Total stockholders’ equity | $ 1,398,041,000 | $ 1,275,586,000 | $ 1,153,928,000
Ordinary dividends paid | 57,800,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | $ 178,300,000 |  |
Maximum borrowing percentage | 10.00% |  |
New Jersey Dividend Restriction | 10.00% |  |
New York Dividend Restriction | 10.00% |  |
Dividend Restriction New York | 100.00% |  |
Selective Insurace Company of America (SICA) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | $ 26,000,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 61,200,000 |  |
Selective Way Insurance Company (SWIC) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 16,000,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 37,000,000 |  |
Selective Insurance Company of South Carolina (SICSC) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 3,300,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 15,900,000 |  |
Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast (SICSE) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,000,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 12,100,000 |  |
Selective Insurance Company of New York (SICNY) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,500,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 9,300,000 |  |
Selective Insurance Company of New England (SICNE) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 1,500,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 5,500,000 |  |
Selective Auto Insurance Company of New Jersey (SAICNJ) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,500,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 10,600,000 |  |
Mesa Underwriting Specialty Insurance Company (MUSIC) [Member] |  |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 9,400,000 |  |
Selective Casualty Insurance Company (SCIC) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 2,500,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 12,100,000 |  |
Selective Fire and Casualty Insurance Company (SFCIC) [Member] |  |  |
Ordinary dividends paid | 1,500,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 5,200,000 |  |
Parent Company [Member] |  |  |
Total stockholders’ equity | 1,400,000,000 |  |
Maximum ordinary dividends | 91,600,000 |  |
Additional Borrowing Capacity for Parent | $ 54,600,000 |  |

X
- Definition The additional borrowing capacity for the Parent from the Indiana Subsidiaries. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_AdditionalBorrowingCapacityForParent
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage used in New York's dividend restriction calculation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_DividendRestrictionNewYork
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum collaterized borrowing percentage from SISE and SISC admitted assets + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_MaximumBorrowingPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage used in New Jersey's dividend restriction calculation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_NewJerseyDividendRestriction
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage used in New York's dividend restriction calculation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sigi_NewYorkDividendRestriction
Namespace Prefix: | sigi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate cash 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 Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-06) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882215&loc=d3e537971-122884 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryAmountAvailableForDividendPaymentsWithRegulatoryApproval
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.E) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74512-122707 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 210.5-02.29-31) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 4 -Section E + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveInsuranceCompanyOfAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveWayInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveInsuranceCompanyOfSouthCarolinaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveInsuranceCompanyOfSoutheastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveInsuranceCompanyOfNewYorkMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveInsuranceCompanyOfNewEnglandMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveAutoInsuranceCompanyOfNewJerseyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_MesaUnderwritingSpecialtyInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveCasualtyInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=sigi_SelectiveFireAndCasualtyInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | sigi_DividendsPaidToParentAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |