Name:	lnc_DiscontinuedInvestmentManagementOperationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	lnc
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of gain on sale of business attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ Details

Name:	lnc_DiscontinuedOperationsGainOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	lnc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pretax gain (loss), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 43

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 47
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (loss) after tax expense (benefit), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTaxAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pretax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain or loss on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

After tax income (loss) from operations of a business component (exclusive of any gain or loss on disposal, or provision therefore) during the reporting period, until its disposal.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income (loss) from discontinued operations during the phase-out period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax expense (benefit) on the gain (loss), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes before deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 13
-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 15
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 43

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 144
-Paragraph 47
-Subparagraph c

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 15, 16

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Millions	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Dispositions (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Jan. 04, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010 Discontinued Investment Management Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Discontinued Investment Management Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Discontinued Lincoln UK Operations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Discontinued Lincoln UK Operations [Member]
Discontinued Investment Management Operations [Abstract]
Cash received	$ 405
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation Disclosures [Abstract]
Revenues - gain (loss) on sale of business				4	4
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before disposal, before federal income taxes				4	(13)
Federal income tax expense (benefit)				1	(2)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before disposal				3	(11)
Disposal
Gain (loss) on disposal, before federal income taxes		0	64	0	37	0	27
Federal income tax expense (benefit)				0	13	0	9
Gain (loss) on disposal				0	24	0	18
Income (loss) from discontinued operations				$ 3	$ 13	$ 0	$ 18