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Derivative Instruments (Maturity Of The Notional Amounts Of Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments    
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year $ 16,466lnc_RemainingLifeLessThan1Year  
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years 37,191lnc_RemainingLife1To5Years  
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years 16,391lnc_RemainingLife6To10Years  
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years 12,575lnc_RemainingLife11To30Years  
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years 1,353lnc_RemainingLifeOver30Years  
Remaining Life - Total Years 83,976invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount 71,594invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Interest Rate Contract [Member]    
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments    
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year 2,569lnc_RemainingLifeLessThan1Year
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years 31,027lnc_RemainingLife1To5Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years 11,676lnc_RemainingLife6To10Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years 12,345lnc_RemainingLife11To30Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years 1,213lnc_RemainingLifeOver30Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Remaining Life - Total Years 58,830invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember		 [1]  
Derivative maturity date Apr. 20, 2067  
Foreign Currency Contract [Member]    
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments    
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year 98lnc_RemainingLifeLessThan1Year
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember		 [2]  
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years 126lnc_RemainingLife1To5Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember		 [2]  
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years 276lnc_RemainingLife6To10Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember		 [2]  
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years 210lnc_RemainingLife11To30Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember		 [2]  
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years    [2]  
Remaining Life - Total Years 710invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember		 [2]  
Derivative maturity date Dec. 20, 2029  
Equity Market Contract [Member]    
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments    
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year 13,799lnc_RemainingLifeLessThan1Year
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years 5,912lnc_RemainingLife1To5Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years 4,439lnc_RemainingLife6To10Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years 20lnc_RemainingLife11To30Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years 140lnc_RemainingLifeOver30Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Remaining Life - Total Years 24,310invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_EquityContractMember		  
Credit Risk Contract [Member]    
Maturity of the notional amounts of derivative financial instruments    
Remaining Life Less Than 1 Year     
Remaining Life - 1 - 5 Years 126lnc_RemainingLife1To5Years
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditRiskContractMember		  
Remaining Life - 6 - 10 Years     
Remaining Life - 11 - 30 Years     
Remaining Life Over - 30 Years     
Remaining Life - Total Years $ 126invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_CreditRiskContractMember		  
[1] As of December 31, 2014, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was April 2067.
[2] As of December 31, 2014, the latest maturity date for which we were hedging our exposure to the variability in future cash flows for these instruments was December 2029.