MORTGAGE LOANS (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 item loan	Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum
Mortgage loans
Loan-to-value ratio with participating interest (as a percent)	85.00%
Commercial mortgage loans
Mortgage loans
Mortgage loans having participation feature	$ 553,600,000	$ 666,600,000
Income recognized on participating mortgage loans	16,700,000	17,900,000
Nonperforming mortgage loans, foreclosed properties and restructured loans pursuant to pooling and servicing agreements	24,500,000
Nonperforming mortgage loans, foreclosed properties and restructured loans to invested assets (as a percent)	0.05%
Assets accepted or agreed to be accepted on mortgage loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings	33,000,000
Principal amount of loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings satisfied by acceptance of assets	41,700,000
Number of mortgage loans permanently impaired	1
Principal amount of impaired loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings	12,600,000
Impaired mortgage loans accounted for as troubled debt restructurings	7,300,000
Reduction in the entity's investment in mortgage loans, net of existing allowances for mortgage loan losses	10,300,000
Remaining mortgage loan transactions accounted for as troubled debt restructurings	28,648,000
Number of loan categories	2
Loans not subject to a pooling and servicing agreement which are either nonperforming or restructured	24,500,000
Nonperforming loans not subject to a pooling or servicing agreement that have been restructured	1,500,000
Nonperforming loans not subject to a pooling and servicing agreement that were foreclosed	1,200,000
Loans subject to a pooling and servicing agreement which are either nonperforming or restructured	0
Change in the allowance for credit losses
Beginning balance	3,130,000	2,875,000
Charge offs	(675,000)	(6,838,000)
Recoveries	(2,600,000)	(1,016,000)
Provision	5,865,000	8,109,000
Ending balance	$ 5,720,000	$ 3,130,000