485BPOS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 12, 2012

1933 Act File No. 33-5186
1940 Act File No. 811-04651

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ý
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. o
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 56

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ý
AMENDMENT NO. 56
(CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX OR BOXES)

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

601 CONGRESS STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02210-2805
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE
(617) 663-2999

THOMAS M. KINZLER, ESQ.
601 CONGRESS STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02210-2805
(NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:

MARK P. GOSHKO, ESQ.
K&L GATES LLP
ONE LINCOLN STREET
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111-2950

APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING: As soon as practicable after the
effective date of this Registration Statement.

     It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

ý	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
o	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
o	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
o	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
o	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
o	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

     If appropriate, check the following box:

o this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT

EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT

EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT

EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Amendment to the Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 12th day of October, 2012.

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
	By:	/s/ Hugh McHaffie
		Hugh McHaffie
		President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Hugh McHaffie Hugh McHaffie	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ Charles A. Rizzo Charles A. Rizzo	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	October 12, 2012
/s/ William H. Cunningham* William H. Cunningham	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ Deborah C. Jackson* Deborah C. Jackson	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ John A. Moore* John A. Moore	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ Steven R. Pruchansky* Steven R. Pruchansky	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ Gregory A. Russo* Gregory A. Russo	Trustee	October 12, 2012
/s/ John G. Vrysen* John G. Vrysen	Trustee	October 12, 2012
*By: Power of Attorney
By: /s/ Nicholas J. Kolokithas Nicholas J. Kolokithas		October 12, 2012
Attorney-in-Fact
*    Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed
with Post -Effective Amendment No. 53
to the Trust’s Registration Statement on
February 28, 2012

Exhibit Index

EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

- 1 -

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Oct. 01, 2012

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment objective  

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

To seek a high level of current income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and expenses 

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the John Hancock family of funds. More information about these and other discounts is available on pages 15 to 17 of the prospectus under “Sales charge reductions and waivers” or pages 56 to 59 of the fund’s statement of additional information under “Initial Sales Charge on Class A Shares.”

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

42.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts on Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the John Hancock family of funds. More information about these and other discounts is available on pages 15 to 17 of the prospectus under “Sales charge reductions and waivers” or pages 56 to 59 of the fund’s statement of additional information under “Initial Sales Charge on Class A Shares.”

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense example

Expense Example by Year [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading

Expenses ($)

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment in the fund for the time periods indicated (Kept column) and then assuming a redemption of all of your shares at the end of those periods (Sold column). The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption

Sold

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

Kept

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal investment strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Past performance

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/FundPerformance, or by calling 1-800-225-5291, Monday–Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and on Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Calendar year total returns These do not include sales charges and would have been lower if they did. Calendar year total returns are shown only for Class A shares and would be different for other share classes.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class A shares and would be different for other classes. They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.

Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1-800-225-5291

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.jhfunds.com/FundPerformance

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar year total returns — Class A (%)

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Calendar year total returns These do not include sales charges and would have been lower if they did.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.09%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 11.00%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.71%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]

rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class A shares and would be different for other classes.

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JHFIX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

4.50%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

^[1]

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.30%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.93%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

541

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

733

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

942

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,542

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

541

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

733

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

942

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,542

2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

7.30%

2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

16.88%

2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

8.75%

2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

2.28%

2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

4.48%

2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

5.57%

2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(10.85%)

2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

29.46%

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

14.91%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.68%

Year to Date Return, Label

rr_YearToDateReturnLabel

Year-to-date total return

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2012

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn

5.09%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

11.00%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(7.71%)

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | Class B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

STIBX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

5.00%

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.30%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.63%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

666

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

814

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,087

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,746

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

166

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

514

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

887

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,746

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | Class C

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSTCX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.30%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.63%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

266

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

514

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

887

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,933

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

166

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

514

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

887

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

1,933

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | before tax | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(2.95%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.33%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.07%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | before tax | Class B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(3.79%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.27%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.98%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | before tax | Class C

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

0.02%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.57%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.82%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | After Taxes on Distributions | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(5.07%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.56%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.30%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales | Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(1.88%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.73%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.37%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares | Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.84%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.50%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.78%

[1] (on certain purchases, including those of $1 million or more)

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Oct. 01, 2012

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

To seek a high level of current income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

42.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense example

Expense Example by Year [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading

Expenses ($)

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal investment strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Past performance

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

August 18, 1986 is the inception date for the oldest class of shares, Class A shares. Class R6 shares were first offered on September 1, 2011. The returns prior to this date are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the gross fees and expenses of Class R6 shares.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.

Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1-888-972-8696

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar year total returns — Class R6 (%)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.33%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 11.12%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.61%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns  (%)

as of 12-31-11

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Class R6

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSNWX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.46%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

47

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

148

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

258

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

579

2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

7.80%

2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

17.44%

2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

9.26%

2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

2.73%

2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

4.93%

2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

6.01%

2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(10.46%)

2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

30.03%

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

15.40%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

2.14%

Year to Date Return, Label

rr_YearToDateReturnLabel

Year-to-date total return

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2012

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn

5.33%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

11.12%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(7.61%)

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | before tax | Class R6

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.14%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.79%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.05%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions | Class R6

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.15%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.97%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.25%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | After tax on distributions, with sale | Class R6

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.42%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.95%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.21%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares | Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.84%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.50%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.78%

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Sep. 26, 2012

XML

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Investment objective  

To seek a high level of current income.

Fees and expenses 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on Class A shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the John Hancock family of funds. More information about these and other discounts is available on pages 15 to 17 of the prospectus under “Sales charge reductions and waivers” or pages 56 to 59 of the fund’s statement of additional information under “Initial Sales Charge on Class A Shares.”

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares	Class A		Class B	Class C
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price	4.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares	Class A	Class B	Class C
Management fee	0.33%	0.33%	0.33%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.30%	1.00%	1.00%
Other expenses	0.30%	0.30%	0.30%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.93%	1.63%	1.63%

Expense example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment in the fund for the time periods indicated (Kept column) and then assuming a redemption of all of your shares at the end of those periods (Sold column). The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expenses ($)

Sold

Expense Example - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares (USD $)	Class A	Class B	Class C
1 Year	541	666	266
3 Years	733	814	514
5 Years	942	1,087	887
10 Years	1,542	1,746	1,933

Kept

Expense Example, No Redemption - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares (USD $)	Class A	Class B	Class C
1 Year	541	166	166
3 Years	733	514	514
5 Years	942	887	887
10 Years	1,542	1,746	1,933

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Principal risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Past performance

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/FundPerformance, or by calling 1-800-225-5291, Monday–Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and on Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Calendar year total returns These do not include sales charges and would have been lower if they did. Calendar year total returns are shown only for Class A shares and would be different for other share classes.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class A shares and would be different for other classes. They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Calendar year total returns — Class A (%)

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.09%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 11.00%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.71%

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Average Annual Total Returns - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class A, B and C Shares	1 Year	5 Year	10 Year
Class A before tax	(2.95%)	6.33%	7.07%
Class A After tax on distributions	(5.07%)	3.56%	4.30%
Class A After tax on distributions, with sale	(1.88%)	3.73%	4.37%
Class B before tax	(3.79%)	6.27%	6.98%
Class C before tax	0.02%	6.57%	6.82%
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index	7.84%	6.50%	5.78%

[1] (on certain purchases, including those of $1 million or more)

XML

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R6 Shares

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Investment objective

To seek a high level of current income.

Fees and expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees -	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R6 Shares Class R6
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less	none

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses -	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R6 Shares Class R6
Management fee	0.33%
Other expenses	0.13%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.46%

Expense example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expenses ($)

Expense Example - (USD $)	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R6 Shares Class R6
1 Year	47
3 Years	148
5 Years	258
10 Years	579

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Principal risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Past performance

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

August 18, 1986 is the inception date for the oldest class of shares, Class A shares. Class R6 shares were first offered on September 1, 2011. The returns prior to this date are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the gross fees and expenses of Class R6 shares.

Calendar year total returns — Class R6 (%)

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.33%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 11.12%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.61%

Average annual total returns  (%)

as of 12-31-11

Average Annual Total Returns - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R6 Shares	1 Year	5 Year	10 Year
Class R6 before tax	2.14%	7.79%	8.05%
Class R6 After tax on distributions	(0.15%)	4.97%	5.25%
Class R6 After tax on distributions, with sale	1.42%	4.95%	5.21%
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index	7.84%	6.50%	5.78%

XML

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Investment objective

To seek a high level of current income.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares	Class R1	Class R2	Class R3	Class R4	Class R5
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price	none	none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less	none	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the
value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares	Class R1	Class R2		Class R3	Class R4		Class R5
Management fee	0.33%	0.33%		0.33%	0.33%		0.33%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	0.50%	0.25%		0.50%	0.15%	[1]	none
Other expenses	0.38%	0.38%	[2]	0.28%	0.23%		0.17%
Service plan fee	0.25%	0.25%		0.14%	0.10%		0.04%
Additional expenses	0.13%	0.13%		0.14%	0.13%		0.13%
Total annual fund operating expenses	1.21%	0.96%		1.10%	0.71%		0.50%

Expense example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expenses ($)

Expense Example - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares (USD $)	Class R1	Class R2	Class R3	Class R4	Class R5
1 Year	123	98	112	73	51
3 Years	384	306	350	249	160
5 Years	665	531	606	440	280
10 Years	1,466	1,178	1,340	992	628

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund's average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund's assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Principal risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund's shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund's performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund's portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund's main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser's investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund's investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund's securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund's share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company's equity securities is subject to changes in the company's financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Past performance

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/RetirementPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Calendar year total returns Calendar year total returns are shown only for Class R1 shares and would be different for other share classes.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class R1 shares and would be different for other classes. They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

August 18, 1986 is the inception date for the oldest class of shares, Class A shares. Class R1 shares were first offered on August 5, 2003. Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares were first offered on May 21, 2009 and Class R2 shares were first offered on March 1, 2012. The returns prior to these dates are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the gross fees and expenses of Class R1, Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares and the estimated gross fees and expenses of Class R2 shares, as applicable.

Calendar year total returns — Class R1 (%)

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 4.88%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 10.91%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.81%

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Average Annual Total Returns - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares	1 Year	5 Year	10 Year
Class R1 before tax	1.57%	6.98%	7.21%
Class R1 After tax on distributions	(0.56%)	4.33%	4.54%
Class R1 After tax on distributions, with sale	1.05%	4.37%	4.56%
Class R2 before tax	1.57%	7.20%	7.47%
Class R3 before tax	1.64%	7.03%	7.25%
Class R4 before tax	1.92%	7.35%	7.57%
Class R5 before tax	2.06%	7.62%	7.87%
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index	7.84%	6.50%	5.78%

[1] The fund's distributor has contractually agreed to waive 0.10% of Rule 12b-1 fees for Class R4 shares. The current waiver agreement expires on September 30, 2013, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the distributor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time. Excluding this waiver would result in Rule 12b-1 fees of 0.25%.

[2] "Other expenses" have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund's Class R2 shares.

XML

Document and Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2012
Risk/Return:
Document Type	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2012
Registrant Name	JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES
Central Index Key	0000792858
Amendment Flag	false
Document Creation Date	Sep. 26, 2012
Document Effective Date	Oct. 01, 2012
Prospectus Date	Oct. 01, 2012

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Oct. 01, 2012

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

To seek a high level of current income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the
value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

42.00%

Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]

rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates

"Other expenses" have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund's Class R2 shares.

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense example

Expense Example by Year [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading

Expenses ($)

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal investment strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor's Corporation (S&P) or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. (Moody's) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund's average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund's assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund's shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund's performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund's ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund's portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund's main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser's investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund's investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund's securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund's share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company's equity securities is subject to changes in the company's financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

The fund's shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Past performance

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/RetirementPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.

Calendar year total returns Calendar year total returns are shown only for Class R1 shares and would be different for other share classes.

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class R1 shares and would be different for other classes. They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

August 18, 1986 is the inception date for the oldest class of shares, Class A shares. Class R1 shares were first offered on August 5, 2003. Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares were first offered on May 21, 2009 and Class R2 shares were first offered on March 1, 2012. The returns prior to these dates are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the gross fees and expenses of Class R1, Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares and the estimated gross fees and expenses of Class R2 shares, as applicable.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.

Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1-888-972-8696

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.jhfunds.com/RetirementPerformance

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar year total returns — Class R1 (%)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 4.88%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 10.91%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.81%

Bar Chart, Returns for Class Not Offered in Prospectus [Text]

rr_BarChartReturnsForClassNotOfferedInProspectus

Class R1 shares were first offered on August 5, 2003. Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares were first offered on May 21, 2009 and Class R2 shares were first offered on March 1, 2012. The returns prior to these dates are those of Class A shares that have been recalculated to apply the gross fees and expenses of Class R1, Class R3, Class R4 and Class R5 shares and the estimated gross fees and expenses of Class R2 shares, as applicable.

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]

rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax returns These are shown only for Class R1 shares and would be different for other classes.

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Class R1

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSTRX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.38%

Service plan fee

rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.25%

Additional expenses

rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.21%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

123

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

384

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

665

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,466

2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

6.80%

2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

16.34%

2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

8.39%

2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

2.04%

2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

4.17%

2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

5.07%

2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(11.26%)

2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

28.97%

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

14.71%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.57%

Year to Date Return, Label

rr_YearToDateReturnLabel

Year-to-date total return

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2012

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn

4.88%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

10.91%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(7.81%)

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Class R2

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSNSX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.25%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.38%

^[1]

Service plan fee

rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.25%

Additional expenses

rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.96%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

98

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

306

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

531

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,178

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Class R3

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSNHX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.50%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.28%

Service plan fee

rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.14%

Additional expenses

rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.14%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.10%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

112

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

350

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

606

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

1,340

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Class R4

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSNFX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.15%

^[2]

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.23%

Service plan fee

rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.10%

Additional expenses

rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.71%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

73

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

249

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

440

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

992

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Class R5

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSNVX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

none

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.17%

Service plan fee

rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.04%

Additional expenses

rr_Component2OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.13%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.50%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

51

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

160

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

280

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

628

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | before tax | Class R1

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.57%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.98%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.21%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | before tax | Class R2

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.57%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.20%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.47%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | before tax | Class R3

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.64%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.03%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.25%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | before tax | Class R4

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.92%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.35%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.57%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | before tax | Class R5

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.06%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.62%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.87%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | After tax on distributions | Class R1

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.56%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.33%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.54%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | After tax on distributions, with sale | Class R1

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.05%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.37%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.56%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 Shares | Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.84%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.50%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.78%

[1] "Other expenses" have been estimated for the first year of operations of the fund's Class R2 shares.

[2] The fund's distributor has contractually agreed to waive 0.10% of Rule 12b-1 fees for Class R4 shares. The current waiver agreement expires on September 30, 2013, unless renewed by mutual agreement of the fund and the distributor based upon a determination that this is appropriate under the circumstances at that time. Excluding this waiver would result in Rule 12b-1 fees of 0.25%.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Registrant Name

dei_EntityRegistrantName

JOHN HANCOCK STRATEGIC SERIES

Prospectus Date

rr_ProspectusDate

Oct. 01, 2012

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

To seek a high level of current income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

42.00%

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Expense example

Expense Example by Year [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleByYearHeading

Expenses ($)

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal investment strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Past performance

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.


Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year.

Performance Additional Market Index [Text]

rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex

Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1-888-972-8696

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar year total returns — Class I (%)

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.30%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 10.90%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.61%

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Trading Symbol

dei_TradingSymbol

JSTIX

Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price

rr_MaximumCumulativeSalesChargeOverOther

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

none

Management fee

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.33%

Other expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.20%

Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

0.53%

1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

54

3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

170

5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

296

10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

665

2002

rr_AnnualReturn2002

7.77%

2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

17.09%

2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

9.17%

2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

2.66%

2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

4.88%

2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

5.97%

2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(10.50%)

2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

29.73%

2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

15.22%

2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

2.24%

Year to Date Return, Label

rr_YearToDateReturnLabel

Year-to-date total return

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2012

Bar Chart, Year to Date Return

rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn

5.30%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best quarter:

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

10.90%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst quarter:

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(7.61%)

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares | before tax | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.24%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

7.70%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.95%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares | After tax on distributions | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

(0.13%)

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.76%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.02%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares | After tax on distributions, with sale | Class I

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.49%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

4.81%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.05%

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares | Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.84%

5 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.50%

10 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.78%

XML

John Hancock Income Fund | Prospectus Class I Shares

JOHN HANCOCK

INCOME FUND

Investment objective

To seek a high level of current income.

Fees and expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder fees (%) (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees -	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class I Shares Class I
Maximum front-end sales charge (load) on purchases as a % of purchase price	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) as a % of purchase or sale price, whichever is less	none

Annual fund operating expenses (%)
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses -	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class I Shares Class I
Management fee	0.33%
Other expenses	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.53%

Expense example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. Please see below a hypothetical example showing the expenses of a $10,000 investment at the end of the various time frames indicated. The example assumes a 5% average annual return. The example assumes fund expenses will not change over the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

Expenses ($)

Expense Example - (USD $)	John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class I Shares Class I
1 Year	54
3 Years	170
5 Years	296
10 Years	665

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 42% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests primarily in the following types of securities: foreign government and corporate debt securities from developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and domestic high-yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred securities and other types of debt securities.

Although the fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities rated, at the time of purchase, as low as D (in default) by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (S&P) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) (or their unrated equivalents), it generally intends to keep its average credit quality in the investment-grade range (AAA to BBB). There is no limit on the fund’s average maturity.

In managing the fund, the subadviser allocates assets among the three major types of securities based on analysis of economic factors, such as projected international interest-rate movements, industry cycles and political trends. However, the subadviser may invest up to 100% of the fund’s assets in any one sector. Within each type of security, the subadviser looks for investments that are appropriate for the overall fund in terms of yield, credit quality, structure and industry distribution. In selecting securities, relative yields and risk/reward ratios are the primary considerations.

The fund may use certain higher-risk investments, including restricted or illiquid securities and derivatives, which include futures contracts on securities, indexes and foreign currency; options on futures contracts, securities, indexes and foreign currency; interest rate, foreign currency and credit default swaps; and foreign currency forward contracts, in each case, for the purposes of reducing risk, obtaining efficient market exposure and/or enhancing investment returns. In addition, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in domestic or foreign common stocks.

Principal risks

An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s shares will go up and down in price, meaning that you could lose money by investing in the fund. Many factors influence a mutual fund’s performance.

Instability in the financial markets has led many governments, including the United States government, to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility and, in some cases, a lack of liquidity. Federal, state and other governments, and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations, may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the fund itself is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the fund.

The fund’s main risk factors are listed below in alphabetical order. Before investing, be sure to read the additional descriptions of these risks beginning on page 6 of the prospectus.

Active management risk The subadviser’s investment strategy may fail to produce the intended result.

Changing distribution levels risk The distribution amounts paid by the fund generally depend on the amount of income and/or dividends paid by the fund’s investments.

Credit and counterparty risk The issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract or a borrower of a fund’s securities may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon the nature of their support. Funds that invest in fixed-income securities are subject to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing a fund’s share price and income level.

Economic and market events risk Events in the financial markets have resulted, and may continue to result, in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign. In addition, reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income markets may adversely affect issuers worldwide.

Equity securities risk The value of a company’s equity securities is subject to changes in the company’s financial condition, and overall market and economic conditions.

Fixed-income securities risk Fixed-income securities are affected by changes in interest rates and credit quality. A rise in interest rates typically causes bond prices to fall. The longer the average maturity of the bonds held by the fund, the more sensitive the fund is likely to be to interest-rate changes. There is the possibility that the issuer of the security will not repay all or a portion of the principal borrowed and will not make all interest payments.

Foreign securities risk As compared to U.S. companies, there may be less publicly available information relating to foreign companies. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes. The value of foreign securities is subject to currency fluctuations and adverse political and economic developments. Investments in emerging-market countries are subject to greater levels of foreign investment risk.

Hedging, derivatives and other strategic transactions risk Hedging and other strategic transactions may increase the volatility of a fund and, if the transaction is not successful, could result in a significant loss to a fund. The use of derivative instruments could produce disproportionate gains or losses, more than the principal amount invested. Investing in derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and, in a down market, could become harder to value or sell at a fair price. The following is a list of certain derivatives and other strategic transactions in which the fund intends to invest and the main risks associated with each of them:

Credit default swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk, risk of default of the underlying reference obligation and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving credit default swaps.

Foreign currency forward contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency forward contracts.

Foreign currency swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), foreign currency risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving foreign currency swaps.

Futures contracts Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving futures contracts.

Interest-rate swaps Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions), interest-rate risk and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving interest-rate swaps.

Options Counterparty risk, liquidity risk (i.e., the inability to enter into closing transactions) and risk of disproportionate loss are the principal risks of engaging in transactions involving options. Counterparty risk does not apply to exchange-traded options.

Issuer risk An issuer of a security may perform poorly and, therefore, the value of its stocks and bonds may decline. An issuer of securities held by the fund could default or have its credit rating downgraded.

Liquidity risk Exposure exists when trading volume, lack of a market maker or legal restrictions impair the ability to sell particular securities or close derivative positions at an advantageous price.

Lower-rated fixed-income securities risk and high-yield securities risk Lower-rated fixed-income securities and high-yield fixed-income securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit quality risk and risk of default than higher-rated fixed-income securities. These securities may be considered speculative and the value of these securities can be more volatile due to increased sensitivity to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market or economic developments and can be difficult to resell.

Sector investing risk Because the fund may focus on a single sector of the economy, its performance depends in large part on the performance of that sector. As a result, the value of your investment may fluctuate more widely than it would in a fund that is diversified across sectors.

Past performance

The following performance information in the bar chart and table below illustrates the variability of the fund’s returns and provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance from year to year. However, past performance (before and after taxes) does not indicate future results. All figures assume dividend reinvestment. Performance for the fund is updated daily, monthly and quarterly and may be obtained at our Web site: www.jhfunds.com/InstitutionalPerformance, or by calling 1-888-972-8696 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on most business days.


Average annual total returns Performance of a broad-based market index is included for comparison.

After-tax returns They reflect the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect as of the date provided and do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Calendar year total returns — Class I (%)

Year-to-date total return The fund’s total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 5.30%.

Best quarter: Q2 ’09, 10.90%

Worst quarter: Q4 ’08, -7.61%

Average annual total returns (%)

as of 12-31-11

Average Annual Total Returns - John Hancock Income Fund Prospectus Class I Shares	1 Year	5 Year	10 Year
Class I before tax	2.24%	7.70%	7.95%
Class I After tax on distributions	(0.13%)	4.76%	5.02%
Class I After tax on distributions, with sale	1.49%	4.81%	5.05%
Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index	7.84%	6.50%	5.78%