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Investments (Select Information For Securities In A Gross Unrealized Loss Position) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost $ 79,412us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost $ 77,217us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Fair Value 87,069us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 80,976us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Gross Unrealized Losses 460lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax 1,265lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Total AFS securities backed by pools of residential mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 1,113us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
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= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 1,261us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Fair Value 1,050us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 1,146us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Gross Unrealized Losses 63lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 115lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Total AFS securities backed by pools of commercial mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 151us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 193us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Fair Value 140us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 169us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Gross Unrealized Losses 11lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 24lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Total AFS securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 1,264us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 1,454us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Fair Value 1,190us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 1,315us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
Gross Unrealized Losses 74lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember		 139lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_TotalAvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesAtRiskMember
AFS securities subject to detailed analysis backed by pools of residential mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 985us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 933us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Fair Value 924us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 833us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Gross Unrealized Losses 61lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 100lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
AFS securities subject to detailed analysis backed by pools of commercial mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 13us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 29us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Fair Value 12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 24us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
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= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Gross Unrealized Losses 1lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 5lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
AFS securities subject to detailed analysis backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages    
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities Residential And Commercial Mortgage At Risk [Line Items]    
Amortized cost 998us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 962us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Fair Value 936us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 857us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember
Gross Unrealized Losses $ 62lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember		 $ 105lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ lnc_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesResidentialAndCommercialMortgageAtRiskAnalysisAndMortgageTypeAxis
= lnc_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfResidentialAndCommercialMortgagesSubjectToDetailedAnalysisMember