Disposition (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 02, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Sep. 30, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Sep. 30, 2014 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Fixed income securities	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Mortgage loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Short-term investments	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Policy loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Lincoln Benefit Life Company Other investments
Held for sale transaction
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			$ 345,000,000	$ 0		$ 797,000,000
Cash proceeds from sale						596,000,000
Loss on disposition of operations	27,000,000	646,000,000	71,000,000	643,000,000			28,000,000	78,000,000
Loss on disposition, after-tax							29,000,000	38,000,000
Investments held by trust							5,080,000,000	5,080,000,000
Assets
Investments									11,983,000,000	10,167,000,000	1,367,000,000	160,000,000	198,000,000	91,000,000
Cash									0
Deferred policy acquisition costs									743,000,000
Reinsurance recoverables, net									1,660,000,000
Accrued investment income									109,000,000
Other assets									79,000,000
Separate Accounts									1,701,000,000
Assets held for sale									16,275,000,000
Less: Loss accrual									(682,000,000)
Total assets held for sale	0		0		15,593,000,000				15,593,000,000
Liabilities
Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits									1,894,000,000
Contractholder funds									10,945,000,000
Unearned premiums									12,000,000
Deferred income taxes									151,000,000
Other liabilities and accrued expenses									196,000,000
Separate Accounts									1,701,000,000
Total liabilities held for sale	0		0		14,899,000,000				14,899,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income related to assets held for sale									$ 85,000,000