Dividend payment restrictions schedule, amounts paid including common stock paid-in-kind.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

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- Definition

Amount of dividends that can be declared or paid without approval of regulatory agency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph e

-Article 4

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Equity (Dividend Restrictions) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Paid		$ 1,428us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Total dividends paid	821
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Permitted w/o Approval			1,200
New England Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Paid		77
Total dividends paid	227
New England Life Insurance Company [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Permitted w/o Approval			199
General American Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Paid	0	0
General American Life Insurance Company [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Permitted w/o Approval			$ 88