Name:	aig_CollateralPostedForSecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseRepledged
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. The amount of securities that an institution purchases and agrees to repurchase (seller-borrower) at a specified date for a specified price, net of any reductions or offsets. Most repurchase agreements involve obligations of the federal government or its agencies, but other financial instruments, such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, and negotiable certificates of deposit (CDs), are sometimes used in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is similar to the seller-borrower's borrowing funds equal to the sales price of the related securities with the securities as collateral. Maturities of such agreements are flexible and generally vary from one day to 270 days.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_SecuritiesPurchasedUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Represents the threshold value of collateral received as a percentage of the cost of purchasing identical replacement securities which is used to determine whether a transaction is classified as a sale.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_SecuritiesSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseThresholdForClassificationAsSale
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Carrying amount of cash and investment securities on deposit with state regulatory authorities in connection with capital requirements.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 320

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485772&loc=d3e22002-158495

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldByInsuranceRegulators
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The fair value of available-for-sale securities that serve as collateral for borrowings.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5086-111524

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPledgedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Interest-bearing deposits in other Federal Home Loan Banks for relatively short periods of time.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DepositsWithOtherFederalHomeLoanBanks
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. The amount of securities that an institution sells and agrees to repurchase (seller-borrower) at a specified date for a specified price, net of any reductions or offsets. Most repurchase agreements involve obligations of the federal government or its agencies, but other financial instruments, such as commercial paper, banker's acceptances, and negotiable certificates of deposit (CDs), are sometimes used in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is similar to the seller-borrower's borrowing funds equal to the sales price of the related securities with the securities as collateral. Maturities of such agreements are flexible and generally vary from one day to 270 days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Chapter 14

-Paragraph 4

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesLoanedOrSoldUnderAgreementsToRepurchaseFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The fair value of trading securities that serve as collateral for borrowings.