STATUTORY REPORTING, CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND DIVIDENDS AND RETAINED EARNINGS RESTRICTIONS (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 04, 2013
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 100,000,000
Payment of cash dividends	21,658,000	$ 19,680,000	$ 17,484,000
United Fire & Casualty Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	22,500,000	29,000,000	13,175,000
Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	16,500,000	$ 13,500,000	$ 26,335,000
United Life [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory basis	1,535,950,000
Net assets on statutory basis, in excess of the legal reserve requirement	195,380,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	50,000,000			$ 125,000,000
State of Iowa Insurance Department [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Maximum dividend distribution without prior approval	$ 53,054,000