Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Parent - Statements of Cash Flow (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.	$ (772)	$ 121	$ 226	$ 74	$ 120	$ 142	$ 167	$ 446	$ (351)	$ 875	$ (2,992)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									0	0	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									(332)	(83)	814
Net realized capital losses									166	355	209
Share-based compensation									98	96	117
Change in:
Other receivables and asset accruals									254	(314)	281
Other, net									11	262	22
Net cash provided by operating activities									1,310	1,868	1,582
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from the sale, maturity, disposal or redemption of equity securities									163	152	54
Fixed maturities									(6,455)	(7,513)	(6,445)
Equity securities									(55)	(57)	(45)
Limited partnerships/corporations									(403)	(318)	(302)
Short-term investments, net									58	273	(28)
Derivatives, net									(29)	72	203
Issuance of intercompany loans with maturities more than three months											0
Maturity of intercompany loans issued to subsidiaries with maturities more than three months											0
Maturity (issuance) of short-term intercompany loans, net									0	0	0
Return of capital contributions and dividends from subsidiaries									0	0	0
Capital contributions to subsidiaries									0	0	0
Other, net									35	9	(5)
Net cash used in investing activities									(1,255)	(282)	(2,428)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt with maturities of more than three months									0	288	338
Repayment of debt with maturities of more than three months									(113)	(677)	(461)
Debt issuance costs									0	(6)	(3)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term loans to subsidiaries									0	0	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net									3	3	3
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net									293	319	0
Share-based compensation									(22)	(14)	(8)
Common stock acquired - Share repurchase									(1,136)	(1,025)	(923)
Dividends paid on common stock									(44)	(6)	(8)
Dividends paid on preferred stock									(28)	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities									(121)	(1,764)	(349)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(66)	(178)	(1,195)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				1,538				1,716	1,538	1,716	2,911
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,472				1,538				1,472	1,538	1,716
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes (received) paid, net									(127)	1	(154)
Interest paid									159	180	174
Parent Issuer
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss) available to Voya Financial, Inc.									(351)	875	(2,992)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									503	(1,065)	2,756
Dividends from subsidiaries									0	52	73
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									(263)	25	131
Net realized capital losses									1	0	0
Share-based compensation									12	3	0
Change in:
Other receivables and asset accruals									(10)	40	32
Due from subsidiaries and affiliates									0	0	1
Due to subsidiaries and affiliates									3	0	1
Other payables and accruals									(24)	(3)	(18)
Other, net									19	46	(2)
Net cash provided by operating activities									(110)	(27)	(18)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Proceeds from the sale, maturity, disposal or redemption of equity securities									156	34	25
Fixed maturities									(5)	0	0
Equity securities									(35)	(36)	(34)
Limited partnerships/corporations									(4)	0	0
Short-term investments, net									0	212	0
Derivatives, net									0	0	0
Issuance of intercompany loans with maturities more than three months									0	0	(34)
Maturity of intercompany loans issued to subsidiaries with maturities more than three months									0	0	34
Maturity (issuance) of short-term intercompany loans, net									(85)	111	87
Return of capital contributions and dividends from subsidiaries									1,064	1,155	1,020
Capital contributions to subsidiaries									(3)	(55)	(467)
Other, net									0	13	0
Net cash used in investing activities									1,088	1,408	631
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt with maturities of more than three months									0	350	399
Repayment of debt with maturities of more than three months									(106)	(623)	(494)
Debt issuance costs									0	(6)	(3)
Net proceeds from (repayments of) short-term loans to subsidiaries									65	(414)	408
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net									3	3	3
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net									293	319	0
Share-based compensation									(22)	(14)	(8)
Common stock acquired - Share repurchase									(1,136)	(1,025)	(923)
Dividends paid on common stock									(44)	(6)	(8)
Dividends paid on preferred stock									(28)	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities									(975)	(1,416)	(626)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									3	(35)	(13)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				$ 209				$ 244	209	244	257
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 212				$ 209				212	209	244
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes (received) paid, net									(128)	1	(154)
Interest paid									$ 136	$ 152	$ 138