Restructuring and Other Costs

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Restructuring, Severance and Other Costs [Abstract]

As a result of a strategic business realignment announced in March 2012, The Hartford is currently focusing on its Property & Casualty, Group Benefits and Mutual Funds businesses. In addition, The Hartford implemented restructuring activities in 2011 across several areas aimed at reducing overall expense levels. The Hartford intends to substantially complete the related restructuring activities over the next 12-18 months. For further discussion of The Hartford's strategic business realignment and related business disposition transactions, see Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 2 - Business Dispositions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Termination benefits related to workforce reductions and lease and other contract terminations have been accrued through December 31, 2012. Additional costs, mainly severance benefits and other related costs and professional fees, expected to be incurred subsequent to December 31, 2012, and asset impairment charges, if any, will be expensed as appropriate.

The Company's estimated restructuring and other costs are expected to approximate $139, pre-tax. As The Hartford executes on its operational and strategic initiatives, the Company's estimate of and actual costs incurred for restructuring activities may differ from these estimates.

Restructuring and other costs, pre-tax incurred by the Company in connection with these activities are as follows:



	For the year ended December 31, 2012
Severance benefits and related costs	$	93
Professional fees	23
Asset impairment charges	4
Total restructuring and other costs	$	120

There were no restructuring and other costs incurred by the Company in 2011 and 2010.

Changes in the accrued restructuring liability balance included in other liabilities in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:



	For the year ended December 31, 2012
	Severance Benefits and Related Costs			Professional Fees			Asset Impairment Charges			Total Restructuring and Other Costs
Balance, beginning of period	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Accruals/provisions	93			23			4			120
Payments/write-offs	(62		)	(23		)	(4		)	(89		)
Balance, end of period	$	31		$	—		$	—		$	31

- Definition

The entire disclosure for restructuring and related activities. Description of restructuring activities such as exit and disposal activities, include facts and circumstances leading to the plan, the expected plan completion date, the major types of costs associated with the plan activities, total expected costs, the accrual balance at the end of the period, and the periods over which the remaining accrual will be settled.

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