-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M7TVLsB9Uu6iyVTYanDCR/85/ivLbAvNQlrangRLIyatz/10hh32onugqbwECFbS
 bGZ0oaIEjCqpvC6Op9TXeA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000859139-08-000051.txt : 20080509
<SEC-HEADER>0000859139-08-000051.hdr.sgml : 20080509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080509160912
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000859139-08-000051
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080509
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080509

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DELPHI FINANCIAL GROUP INC/DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859139
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				133427277
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1105 NORTH MARKET STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1230
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		302-478-5142

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 8985
		STREET 2:		1105 NORTH MARKET STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19899

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RSL HOLDING CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOX EDWARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001065132

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11462
		FILM NUMBER:		08818552

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SLM CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		11600 SALLIE MAE DRIVE
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20193
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7039846785

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12061 BLUEMONT WAY
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20190
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859139</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DELPHI FINANCIAL GROUP INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001065132</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOX EDWARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DELPHI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>590 MADISON AVENUE 30TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to purchase Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11049</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-05-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11049</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11049</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options become exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on May 1, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chad W. Coulter, Attorney-in-Fact for Edward A. Fox</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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