Name:	lnc_IndianaStatutoryLimitationAsPercentageOfInsurerContractHolderSurplus
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

LLANY, a NY-domiciled insurance company, may not pay out the lesser of this percentage of surplus as of the immediately preceding calendar year or net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year to contract holders, not including realized capital gains, without permission from the New York Insurance Commissioner.

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_NewYorkStatutoryLimitationAsPercentageOfInsurerContractHolderSurplus
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The high end of the risk-based capital percentage range that requires an insurer to submit a plan to the regulator detailing corrective action it proposes to undertake

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_RbcRatioCompanyActionLevelHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The low end of the risk-based capital percentage range that requires an insurer to submit a plan to the regulator detailing corrective action it proposes to undertake

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_RbcRatioCompanyActionLevelLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

n/a

No definition available.

Name:	lnc_StatutoryInformationAndRestrictionsDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	lnc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of dividends available for payment after computation of statutory restrictions on capital surplus.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690