$LNC
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP Stock $lnc

$lnc Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2010 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000005955812000027 Filed on February 23, 2012

Income Statement

Concept	2010 Q4	2010 Q3	2010 Q2
Revenue	$2.662B	$2.613B	$2.605B
YoY Change	10.78%	25.5%	38.42%
Cost Of Revenue		$924.0M	$838.0M
YoY Change
Gross Profit		$1.689B	$1.767B
YoY Change
Gross Profit Margin		64.64%	67.83%
Selling, General & Admin
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Operating Expenses	$2.331B	$2.235B	$2.205B
YoY Change	12.4%	14.47%	17.55%
Operating Profit		-$546.3M	-$438.3M
YoY Change
Interest Expense	-$79.10M	-$74.50M	-$69.00M
YoY Change	16.15%	9.56%	13.3%
% of Operating Profit
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$252.3M	$303.0M	$330.0M
YoY Change	89.56%	384.8%	-712.24%
Income Tax	$56.70M	$55.00M	$78.00M
% Of Pretax Income	22.47%	18.15%	23.64%
Net Earnings	$196.0M	$246.0M	$255.0M
YoY Change	92.16%	60.78%	-258.39%
Net Earnings / Revenue	7.36%	9.41%	9.79%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.62	$0.78	$0.35
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.60	$0.75	$0.33
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding		316700B shares	304500B shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		325700B shares	314600B shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2010 Q4	2010 Q3	2010 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments
YoY Change
Cash & Equivalents	$2.741B	$3.547B	$3.700B
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets
YoY Change
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables
Other Receivables
Total Short-Term Assets
YoY Change
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$202.0M	$219.0M	$218.0M
YoY Change	16.09%	42.21%	37.11%
Goodwill	$3.019B
YoY Change	0.2%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$82.06B	$83.99B	$80.75B
YoY Change	9.8%	12.37%	16.76%
Other Assets
YoY Change
Total Long-Term Assets
YoY Change
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets
Total Long-Term Assets
Total Assets	$193.8B	$190.5B	$180.1B
YoY Change	9.24%	4.96%	7.83%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable
YoY Change
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$250.0M	$101.0M	$99.00M
YoY Change	0.0%	-74.75%	-78.24%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$2.010B	$2.668B	$2.475B
YoY Change	-10.94%	1.06%	14.21%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$5.399B	$5.943B	$5.865B
YoY Change	6.91%	24.1%	22.83%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$3.794B	$4.280B	$4.079B
YoY Change	7.51%	-61.47%	-59.85%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$9.193B	$10.22B	$9.944B
YoY Change	7.16%	-35.7%	-33.42%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$2.010B	$2.668B	$2.475B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$9.193B	$10.22B	$9.944B
Total Liabilities	$181.0B	$176.9B	$167.5B
YoY Change	9.22%	4.18%	6.03%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$3.934B
YoY Change	18.64%
Common Stock
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$11.69B	$13.56B	$12.64B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$193.8B	$190.5B	$180.1B
YoY Change	9.24%	4.96%	7.83%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2010 Q4	2010 Q3	2010 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$196.0M	$246.0M	$255.0M
YoY Change	92.16%	60.78%	-258.39%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization
YoY Change
Cash From Operating Activities	$576.0M	$271.0M	$308.0M
YoY Change	49.61%	158.1%	-57.58%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures
YoY Change
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$1.718B	-$1.379B	-$1.044B
YoY Change	211.23%	-18.69%	-77.95%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$1.718B	-$1.379B	-$1.044B
YoY Change	211.23%	-18.69%	-77.95%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	336.0M	955.0M	991.0M
YoY Change	-61.6%	-59.86%	-8.49%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	576.0M	271.0M	308.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-1.718B	-1.379B	-1.044B
Cash From Financing Activities	336.0M	955.0M	991.0M
Net Change In Cash	-806.0M	-153.0M	255.0M
YoY Change	-213.84%	-119.42%	-108.72%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$576.0M	$271.0M	$308.0M
Capital Expenditures
Free Cash Flow
YoY Change

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
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CY2011Q4	lnc	Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Securities Net Amortized Cost VariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturitySecuritiesNetAmortizedCost	700000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	139000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities TradingSecurities	2675000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet	6942000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Real Estate Investments RealEstateInvestments	137000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	3151000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Investments OtherInvestments	1069000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Investments Investments	93130000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	4510000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs And Value Of Business Acquired DeferredAcquisitionCostsAndValueOfBusinessAcquired	8191000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Premiums And Other Receivables Net PremiumsAndOtherReceivablesNet	408000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Investment Income Receivable AccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable	981000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Reinsurance Recoverables ReinsuranceRecoverables	6526000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Separate Account Assets SeparateAccountAssets	83477000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	2273000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	2536000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Reinsurance Related Derivative Liabilities ReinsuranceRelatedDerivativeLiabilities	102000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Liability FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsLiability	1149000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Liability FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsLiability	1045000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Long Term Debt And Fair Value Hedges LongTermDebtAndFairValueHedges	5399000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	202906000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Policyholder Funds PolicyholderFunds	69466000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Future Policy Benefits And Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsAndUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense	19813000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	300000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Long Term Debt And Fair Value Hedges LongTermDebtAndFairValueHedges	5391000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Reinsurance Related Derivative Liabilities ReinsuranceRelatedDerivativeLiabilities	168000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Deferred Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance DeferredGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsurance	394000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Received For Securities Loaned At Carrying Value DepositsReceivedForSecuritiesLoanedAtCarryingValue	3733000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Carrying Amount Liabilities VariableInterestCarryingAmountLiabilities	193000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	4762000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Separate Accounts Liability SeparateAccountsLiability	83477000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	188742000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	7590000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	4126000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	2448000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	14164000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	202906000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	68030000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Securities Net Amortized Cost VariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturitySecuritiesNetAmortizedCost	584000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Trading Securities TradingSecurities	2596000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	197000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Commercial And Consumer Net MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCommercialAndConsumerNet	6752000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Real Estate Investments RealEstateInvestments	202000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	1076000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Investments OtherInvestments	1038000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Investments Investments	83340000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	2741000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs And Value Of Business Acquired DeferredAcquisitionCostsAndValueOfBusinessAcquired	8930000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Premiums And Other Receivables Net PremiumsAndOtherReceivablesNet	335000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Investment Income Receivable AccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable	933000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Reinsurance Recoverables ReinsuranceRecoverables	6527000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3019000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	2458000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Separate Account Assets SeparateAccountAssets	84630000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	193824000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Future Policy Benefits And Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsAndUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpense	17527000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Policyholder Funds PolicyholderFunds	66407000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	351000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Deferred Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance DeferredGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsurance	468000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Received For Securities Loaned At Carrying Value DepositsReceivedForSecuritiesLoanedAtCarryingValue	1659000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Carrying Amount Liabilities VariableInterestCarryingAmountLiabilities	132000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	3194000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Portion Of Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income PortionOfLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	275000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Net Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities Recognized In Earnings NetOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecuritiesRecognizedInEarnings	-118000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Net Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities Recognized In Earnings NetOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecuritiesRecognizedInEarnings	-392000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities RealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecurities	-181000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities RealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecurities	-754000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Income OtherIncome	477000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Income OtherIncome	405000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	193824000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Separate Accounts Liability SeparateAccountsLiability	84630000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	181018000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	8124000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	3934000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	748000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	12806000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAmortizedCost	68988000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Securities Amortized Cost VariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturitySecuritiesAmortizedCost	673000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Equity Cost EquityCost	135000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAmortizedCost	65175000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Equity Cost EquityCost	179000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies2009 CommitmentsAndContingencies2009
CY2010	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies2009 CommitmentsAndContingencies2009
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	10000000.00	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	10000000.00	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	800000000.00	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	800000000.00	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	291319222.00	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	291319222.00	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	315718554.00	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	315718554.00	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAsset	874000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Funds Held Under Reinsurance Agreements Asset FundsHeldUnderReinsuranceAgreementsAsset	911000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Securities Amortized Cost VariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturitySecuritiesAmortizedCost	570000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Premiums Earned Net PremiumsEarnedNet	2294000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Insurance Fees InsuranceFees	3437000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Investment Income NetInvestmentIncome	4652000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Investment Income NetInvestmentIncome	4178000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	-165000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	-667000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Portion Of Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income PortionOfLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	47000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	10636000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	8499000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances	2488000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances	2465000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Net PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet	3345000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Net PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet	2834000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Cost And Expense Operating OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	3163000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Other Cost And Expense Operating OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	2794000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Interest And Debt Expense Charged Against Earnings InterestAndDebtExpenseChargedAgainstEarnings	294000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Interest And Debt Expense Charged Against Earnings InterestAndDebtExpenseChargedAgainstEarnings	197000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Impairment Of Intangibles ImpairmentOfIntangibles	747000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Impairment Of Intangibles ImpairmentOfIntangibles	730000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	10037000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	9020000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	599000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-521000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	297000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-106000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	302000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	-415000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-8000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-70000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	294000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-485000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Preferred Stock Dividends And Accretion Of Discount PreferredStockDividendsAndAccretionOfDiscount	0	USD
CY2009	lnc	Preferred Stock Dividends And Accretion Of Discount PreferredStockDividendsAndAccretionOfDiscount	-35000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	294000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-520000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.99
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	-1.60
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.03
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.25
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.96
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.85
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.95
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	-1.60
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.03
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.25
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.92
CY2009	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.85
CY2010	us-gaap	Premiums Earned Net PremiumsEarnedNet	2176000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Insurance Fees InsuranceFees	3234000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Investment Income NetInvestmentIncome	4541000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	-240000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Portion Of Loss Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income PortionOfLossRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	88000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Net Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities Recognized In Earnings NetOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecuritiesRecognizedInEarnings	-152000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses On Securities RealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesOnSecurities	75000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Income OtherIncome	458000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	10407000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Credited To Policyholders Account Balances InterestCreditedToPolicyholdersAccountBalances	2488000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Net PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet	3327000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Cost And Expense Operating OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	3067000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Interest And Debt Expense Charged Against Earnings InterestAndDebtExpenseChargedAgainstEarnings	291000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Impairment Of Intangibles ImpairmentOfIntangibles	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	9173000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1234000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	283000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	951000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	29000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	980000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Preferred Stock Dividends And Accretion Of Discount PreferredStockDividendsAndAccretionOfDiscount	-167000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	813000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	2.53
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.09
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.62
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	2.45
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.09
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.54
CY2009	us-gaap	Premiums Earned Net PremiumsEarnedNet	2064000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Insurance Fees InsuranceFees	2922000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance AmortizationOfDeferredGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsurance	-75000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance AmortizationOfDeferredGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsurance	-75000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Amortization Of Deferred Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance AmortizationOfDeferredGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsurance	-76000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Realized Loss RealizedLoss	1146000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Realized Loss RealizedLoss	77000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Realized Loss RealizedLoss	299000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.230	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.080	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.040	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	-262000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs Value Of Business Acquired Deferred Sales Inducements And Deferred Front End Loads Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DeferredAcquisitionCostsValueOfBusinessAcquiredDeferredSalesInducementsAndDeferredFrontEndLoadsDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-252000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs Value Of Business Acquired Deferred Sales Inducements And Deferred Front End Loads Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DeferredAcquisitionCostsValueOfBusinessAcquiredDeferredSalesInducementsAndDeferredFrontEndLoadsDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-246000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs Value Of Business Acquired Deferred Sales Inducements And Deferred Front End Loads Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DeferredAcquisitionCostsValueOfBusinessAcquiredDeferredSalesInducementsAndDeferredFrontEndLoadsDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-316000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Trading Securities ProceedsFromPaymentsForTradingSecurities	88000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Trading Securities ProceedsFromPaymentsForTradingSecurities	47000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Trading Securities ProceedsFromPaymentsForTradingSecurities	-3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Premiums Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable	73000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Premiums Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable	14000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Premiums Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInPremiumsReceivable	-128000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Investment Income Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable	48000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Investment Income Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable	44000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Investment Income Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedInvestmentIncomeReceivable	75000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Policyholder Funds IncreaseDecreaseInOtherPolicyholderFunds	125000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Policyholder Funds IncreaseDecreaseInOtherPolicyholderFunds	643000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Policyholder Funds IncreaseDecreaseInOtherPolicyholderFunds	-463000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Change In Funds Withheld Reinsurance Liability And Reinsurance Recoverables ChangeInFundsWithheldReinsuranceLiabilityAndReinsuranceRecoverables	66000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Change In Funds Withheld Reinsurance Liability And Reinsurance Recoverables ChangeInFundsWithheldReinsuranceLiabilityAndReinsuranceRecoverables	-22000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Change In Funds Withheld Reinsurance Liability And Reinsurance Recoverables ChangeInFundsWithheldReinsuranceLiabilityAndReinsuranceRecoverables	-77000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Change In Federal Income Tax Accruals ChangeInFederalIncomeTaxAccruals	338000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Change In Federal Income Tax Accruals ChangeInFederalIncomeTaxAccruals	414000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Change In Federal Income Tax Accruals ChangeInFederalIncomeTaxAccruals	9000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	-5000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt	64000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	-3000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	66000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Gain Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation Before Income Tax DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax	-219000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	-21000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	70000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther	55000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1277000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1720000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	937000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	10702000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	13057000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	13532000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1497000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	3118000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	3818000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	5324000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	4652000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	3330000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Investments PaymentsToAcquireOtherInvestments	3282000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Investments PaymentsToAcquireOtherInvestments	3581000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Investments PaymentsToAcquireOtherInvestments	4261000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Other Investments ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfOtherInvestments	3094000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Other Investments ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfOtherInvestments	3239000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Other Investments ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfOtherInvestments	4340000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Loaned Securities IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForLoanedSecurities	2074000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Loaned Securities IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForLoanedSecurities	-248000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Loaned Securities IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForLoanedSecurities	-1799000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	321000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses Net Of Cash Divested ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested	327000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	130000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	74000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	75000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-2125000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-5630000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-7852000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	525000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	405000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	522000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	298000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	749000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	788000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deposits Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable DepositsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	10953000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deposits Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable DepositsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	11080000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deposits Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable DepositsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	11378000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Withdrawals Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable WithdrawalsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	5050000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Withdrawals Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable WithdrawalsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	5305000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Withdrawals Of Fixed Account Values Including Fixed Portion Of Variable WithdrawalsOfFixedAccountValuesIncludingFixedPortionOfVariable	5530000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Transfers To And From Separate Accounts Net TransfersToAndFromSeparateAccountsNet	2325000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Transfers To And From Separate Accounts Net TransfersToAndFromSeparateAccountsNet	2957000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Transfers To And From Separate Accounts Net TransfersToAndFromSeparateAccountsNet	2248000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Common Stock Issued For Benefit Plans And Excess Tax Benefits CommonStockIssuedForBenefitPlansAndExcessTaxBenefits	-3000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	652000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	576000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Common Stock Issued For Benefit Plans And Excess Tax Benefits CommonStockIssuedForBenefitPlansAndExcessTaxBenefits	-1000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Common Stock Issued For Benefit Plans And Excess Tax Benefits CommonStockIssuedForBenefitPlansAndExcessTaxBenefits	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Issuance Redemption Of Series B Preferred Stock And Issuance Repurchase And Cancellation Of Associated Common Stock Warrants IssuanceRedemptionOfSeriesBPreferredStockAndIssuanceRepurchaseAndCancellationOfAssociatedCommonStockWarrants	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Issuance Redemption Of Series B Preferred Stock And Issuance Repurchase And Cancellation Of Associated Common Stock Warrants IssuanceRedemptionOfSeriesBPreferredStockAndIssuanceRepurchaseAndCancellationOfAssociatedCommonStockWarrants	-998000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Issuance Redemption Of Series B Preferred Stock And Issuance Repurchase And Cancellation Of Associated Common Stock Warrants IssuanceRedemptionOfSeriesBPreferredStockAndIssuanceRepurchaseAndCancellationOfAssociatedCommonStockWarrants	950000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	368000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	25000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	61000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	42000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	79000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	2617000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	2467000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	5173000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	1769000000	USD
CY2008Q4	lnc	Cash And Invested Cash From Cash Flows CashAndInvestedCashFromCashFlows	5926000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Cash And Invested Cash From Cash Flows CashAndInvestedCashFromCashFlows	4184000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Cash And Invested Cash From Cash Flows CashAndInvestedCashFromCashFlows	2741000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Cash And Invested Cash From Cash Flows CashAndInvestedCashFromCashFlows	4510000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-1443000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-1742000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Issuance Decrease In Commercial Paper IssuanceDecreaseInCommercialPaper	1000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Issuance Decrease In Commercial Paper IssuanceDecreaseInCommercialPaper	-216000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Issuance Decrease In Commercial Paper IssuanceDecreaseInCommercialPaper	-100000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-90000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	55000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-93000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Traditional Life Interest Rate Low End TraditionalLifeInterestRateLowEnd	0.0225	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Traditional Life Interest Rate High End TraditionalLifeInterestRateHighEnd	0.0775	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsUsefulLife	25	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Liability For Policyholder Contract Deposits Interest Rate Deferred Annuity Low End LiabilityForPolicyholderContractDepositsInterestRateDeferredAnnuityLowEnd	0.01	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Liability For Policyholder Contract Deposits Interest Rate Deferred Annuity High End LiabilityForPolicyholderContractDepositsInterestRateDeferredAnnuityHighEnd	0.135	pure
CY2011	lnc	Period Over Which Gain On Business Sold Through Reinsurance Is Recognized PeriodOverWhichGainOnBusinessSoldThroughReinsuranceIsRecognized	15
	lnc	Interest Crediting Rate Low End InterestCreditingRateLowEnd	0.03	pure
	lnc	Interest Crediting Rate High End InterestCreditingRateHighEnd	0.09	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Policyholder Dividends PolicyholderDividends	79000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Policyholder Dividends PolicyholderDividends	82000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Policyholder Dividends PolicyholderDividends	89000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Participating Policies As Percentage Of Gross Insurance In Force ParticipatingPoliciesAsPercentageOfGrossInsuranceInForce	0.01	pure
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Participating Policies As Percentage Of Gross Insurance In Force ParticipatingPoliciesAsPercentageOfGrossInsuranceInForce	0.01	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Industrial Equipment Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteIndustrialEquipmentCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.033	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Sovereign Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteSovereignCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.033	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Food Products Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteFoodProductsCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.032	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Conglomerates Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteConglomeratesCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.031	pure
CY2011	lnc	Purchase Price Adjustment PurchasePriceAdjustment	-67000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Telecommunications Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteTelecommunicationsCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.112	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Financial Intermediaries Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteFinancialIntermediariesCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.105	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Oil And Gas Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteOilAndGasCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.063	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Utilities Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteUtilitiesCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.045	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Chemicals And Plastics Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteChemicalsAndPlasticsCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.039	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Drugs Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteDrugsCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.037	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Retailers Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteRetailersCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.035	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Forest Products Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteForestProductsCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.03	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Other Collateral Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteOtherCollateralIndustryPercentage	0.405	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Credit Linked Note Total By Industry Percentage CreditLinkedNoteTotalByIndustryPercentage	1	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Number Of Credit Linked Notes Structures Invested In NumberOfCreditLinkedNotesStructuresInvestedIn	2	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Percentage Of Notes Of Credit Linked Notes Structures Invested In PercentageOfNotesOfCreditLinkedNotesStructuresInvestedIn	1.00	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Unconsolidated Vies Senior Note UnconsolidatedViesSeniorNote	500000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Excess Mortality Swap Note ExcessMortalitySwapNote	100000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	69796000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Gross Unrealized Gains Afs Securities GrossUnrealizedGainsAfsSecurities	-7585000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Gross Unrealized Losses Afs Securities GrossUnrealizedLossesAfsSecurities	-906000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Other Than Temporary Impairment AvailableForSaleSecuritiesOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	-203000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	76272000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	65924000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Gross Unrealized Gains Afs Securities GrossUnrealizedGainsAfsSecurities	-4295000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Gross Unrealized Losses Afs Securities GrossUnrealizedLossesAfsSecurities	-1160000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Other Than Temporary Impairment AvailableForSaleSecuritiesOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	-248000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	68811000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Single Maturity Date Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesSingleMaturityDateAmortizedCost	69661000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Single Maturity Date Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesSingleMaturityDateFairValue	76133000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than Twelve Months Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue	3993000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses	338000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Twelve Months Or Longer Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue	2490000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	771000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue	6483000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	1109000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Position Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions	897	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Position Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions	1237	pure
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than Twelve Months Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue	8200000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Twelve Months Or Longer Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue	3814000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue	12014000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses	534000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	874000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities In Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	1408000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentFairValueDisclosure	1055000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentGrossUnrealizedLoss	625000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Other Than Temporary Impairment AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	155000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions	256	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentFairValueDisclosure	1201000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentGrossUnrealizedLoss	632000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Other Than Temporary Impairment AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	190000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Declined Greater Than20 Percent Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDeclinedGreaterThan20PercentQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions	291	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Credit Losses On Debt Securities Held OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	319000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Credit Losses On Debt Securities Held OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	268000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Credit Losses On Debt Securities Held OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	390000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions No Previous Impairment OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment	55000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions No Previous Impairment OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment	14000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions Additional Credit Losses OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses	71000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions Additional Credit Losses OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses	65000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Percentage Of Total Mortgage Loans PercentageOfTotalMortgageLoans	1	pure
CY2008Q4	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Credit Losses On Debt Securities Held OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of Initial Adoption Of New Accounting Principle CumulativeEffectOfInitialAdoptionOfNewAccountingPrinciple	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of Initial Adoption Of New Accounting Principle CumulativeEffectOfInitialAdoptionOfNewAccountingPrinciple	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Reductions Securities Sold OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold	-55000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Reductions Securities Sold OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold	-28000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of Initial Adoption Of New Accounting Principle CumulativeEffectOfInitialAdoptionOfNewAccountingPrinciple	31000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions No Previous Impairment OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment	267000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Additions Additional Credit Losses OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses	0	USD
CY2009	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Reductions Securities Sold OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold	-30000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities With Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesWithCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAmortizedCost	876000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Gross Unrealized Gains GrossUnrealizedGains	2000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities With Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Gross Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment AvailableForSaleSecuritiesWithCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsGrossUnrealizedOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	205000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Available For Sale Securities With Credit Losses Recognized In Earnings Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesWithCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsFairValueDisclosure	673000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Losses Real Estate AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRealEstate	-31000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Sixty To Ninety Days Past Due SixtyToNinetyDaysPastDue	26000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Greater Than Ninety Days Past Due GreaterThanNinetyDaysPastDue	76000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Unamortized Premium Discount UnamortizedPremiumDiscount	13000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Sixty To Ninety Days Past Due SixtyToNinetyDaysPastDue	8000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Greater Than Ninety Days Past Due GreaterThanNinetyDaysPastDue	40000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Losses Real Estate AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesRealEstate	-13000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Unamortized Premium Discount UnamortizedPremiumDiscount	20000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Mortgage Loans Current MortgageLoansCurrent	6858000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Mortgage Loans Current MortgageLoansCurrent	6697000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Number Of Impaired Mortgage Loans NumberOfImpairedMortgageLoans	12	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Number Of Impaired Mortgage Loans NumberOfImpairedMortgageLoans	9	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired End Of Period In Allowance For Loan Loss LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedEndOfPeriodInAllowanceForLoanLoss	100000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired End Of Period In Allowance For Loan Loss LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedEndOfPeriodInAllowanceForLoanLoss	75000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired At Carrying Value LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedAtCarryingValue	69000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired At Carrying Value LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedAtCarryingValue	62000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Average Investment LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedAverageInvestment	57000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Average Investment LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedAverageInvestment	54000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Average Investment LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedAverageInvestment	33000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	2000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	3000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	1000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Cash Basis Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod	2000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Cash Basis Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod	3000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Cash Basis Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod	1000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Percentage Of Total Mortgage Loans PercentageOfTotalMortgageLoans	1	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Face Amount Of Mortgages MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages	6960000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Gross Otti Recognized In Net Income Loss GrossOttiRecognizedInNetIncomeLoss	-205000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Gross Otti Recognized In Net Income Loss GrossOttiRecognizedInNetIncomeLoss	-597000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Mortgage Loans On Real Estate Face Amount Of Mortgages MortgageLoansOnRealEstateFaceAmountOfMortgages	6745000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	4763000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	4661000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	4292000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Investment Income Investment Expense InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense	-111000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Investment Income Investment Expense InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense	-120000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Investment Income Investment Expense InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense	-114000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	86000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-227000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	12000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Investments Gross Realized Gain Loss OtherInvestmentsGrossRealizedGainLoss	-9000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Amortization Associated With Realized Gain Loss On Certain Investments AmortizationAssociatedWithRealizedGainLossOnCertainInvestments	-13000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Total Realized Gain Loss Related To Certain Investments TotalRealizedGainLossRelatedToCertainInvestments	-151000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	107000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-248000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	9000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-3000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Investments Gross Realized Gain Loss OtherInvestmentsGrossRealizedGainLoss	-53000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Amortization Associated With Realized Gain Loss On Certain Investments AmortizationAssociatedWithRealizedGainLossOnCertainInvestments	8000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Total Realized Gain Loss Related To Certain Investments TotalRealizedGainLossRelatedToCertainInvestments	-180000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	161000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fixed Maturity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses FixedMaturityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-709000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	6000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Equity Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses EquityAvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	-27000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Other Investments Gross Realized Gain Loss OtherInvestmentsGrossRealizedGainLoss	-130000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Amortization Associated With Realized Gain Loss On Certain Investments AmortizationAssociatedWithRealizedGainLossOnCertainInvestments	161000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Total Realized Gain Loss Related To Certain Investments TotalRealizedGainLossRelatedToCertainInvestments	-538000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Gross Otti Recognized In Net Income Loss GrossOttiRecognizedInNetIncomeLoss	-153000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Amortization Associated With Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Net Income AmortizationAssociatedWithGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNetIncome	35000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Amortization Associated With Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Net Income AmortizationAssociatedWithGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNetIncome	53000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Amortization Associated With Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Net Income AmortizationAssociatedWithGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNetIncome	205000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Gross Other Than Temporary Impairments Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	58000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Gross Other Than Temporary Impairments Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	98000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Gross Other Than Temporary Impairments Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	357000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Change In Related Items On Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income ChangeInRelatedItemsOnGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	-11000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Change In Related Items On Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income ChangeInRelatedItemsOnGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	-10000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Change In Related Items On Gross Other Than Temporary Impairment Losses Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income ChangeInRelatedItemsOnGrossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	-82000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Payable Held For Derivative Investments Carrying Value CollateralPayableHeldForDerivativeInvestmentsCarryingValue	2980000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Securities Lending Agreements Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderSecuritiesLendingAgreementsCarryingValue	200000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Reverse Repurchase Agreements Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderReverseRepurchaseAgreementsCarryingValue	280000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedForTermAssetBackedSecuritiesLoanFacilityCarryingValue	173000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Federal Home Loan Bank Of Indianapolis Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedForFederalHomeLoanBankOfIndianapolisCarryingValue	100000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Payable Held For Derivative Investments Fair Value CollateralPayableHeldForDerivativeInvestmentsFairValue	2980000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Securities Lending Agreements Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderSecuritiesLendingAgreementsFairValue	193000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Reverse Repurchase Agreements Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderReverseRepurchaseAgreementsFairValue	294000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedForTermAssetBackedSecuritiesLoanFacilityFairValue	199000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Federal Home Loan Bank Of Indianapolis Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedForFederalHomeLoanBankOfIndianapolisFairValue	142000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Total Payables For Collateral On Investments Fair Value TotalPayablesForCollateralOnInvestmentsFairValue	3808000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Payable Held For Derivative Investments Carrying Value CollateralPayableHeldForDerivativeInvestmentsCarryingValue	800000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Securities Lending Agreements Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderSecuritiesLendingAgreementsCarryingValue	199000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Reverse Repurchase Agreements Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderReverseRepurchaseAgreementsCarryingValue	280000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedForTermAssetBackedSecuritiesLoanFacilityCarryingValue	280000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Federal Home Loan Bank Of Indianapolis Carrying Value SecuritiesPledgedForFederalHomeLoanBankOfIndianapolisCarryingValue	100000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Payable Held For Derivative Investments Fair Value CollateralPayableHeldForDerivativeInvestmentsFairValue	800000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Securities Lending Agreements Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderSecuritiesLendingAgreementsFairValue	192000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged Under Reverse Repurchase Agreements Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedUnderReverseRepurchaseAgreementsFairValue	294000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedForTermAssetBackedSecuritiesLoanFacilityFairValue	318000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Securities Pledged For Federal Home Loan Bank Of Indianapolis Fair Value SecuritiesPledgedForFederalHomeLoanBankOfIndianapolisFairValue	110000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Total Payables For Collateral On Investments Fair Value TotalPayablesForCollateralOnInvestmentsFairValue	1714000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Reverse Repurchase Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForReverseRepurchaseAgreements	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Talf IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForTalf	-107000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Fhlbi IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForFhlbi	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Reverse Repurchase Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForReverseRepurchaseAgreements	-64000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Talf IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForTalf	-65000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Fhlbi IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForFhlbi	0	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Reverse Repurchase Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForReverseRepurchaseAgreements	-126000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Talf IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForTalf	345000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Pledged For Fhlbi IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesPledgedForFhlbi	100000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Derivative Investments IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForDerivativeInvestments	2180000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Lending Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesLendingAgreements	1000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Derivative Investments IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForDerivativeInvestments	183000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Lending Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesLendingAgreements	-302000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Derivative Investments IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForDerivativeInvestments	-2192000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase Decrease In Cash Collateral For Securities Lending Agreements IncreaseDecreaseInCashCollateralForSecuritiesLendingAgreements	74000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Intangibles Amortization OtherIntangiblesAmortization	4000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Media Expenses MediaExpenses	59000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgages	135000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgages	163000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages Unrealized OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesUnrealized	-15000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages Unrealized OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesUnrealized	19000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages Realized OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesRealized	150000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Other Than Temporary Impairment For Afs Securities Backed By Pools Of Mortgages Realized OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentForAfsSecuritiesBackedByPoolsOfMortgagesRealized	144000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Trading Securities Unrealized Holding Gain Loss TradingSecuritiesUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss	118000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Trading Securities Unrealized Holding Gain Loss TradingSecuritiesUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss	93000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Trading Securities Unrealized Holding Gain Loss TradingSecuritiesUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss	137000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Largest Mortgage Loan Concentration In Geographic Region LargestMortgageLoanConcentrationInGeographicRegion	0.32	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Largest Mortgage Loan Concentration In Geographic Region LargestMortgageLoanConcentrationInGeographicRegion	0.30	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Securities Lending Agreements Foreign CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueSecuritiesLendingAgreementsForeign	1.05	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Reverse Repurchase Agreements CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueReverseRepurchaseAgreements	0.95	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Talf CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueTalf	0.90	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Fhlbi Low End Of Range CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueFhlbiLowEndOfRange	0.85	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Fhlbi High End Of Range CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueFhlbiHighEndOfRange	0.95	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Investment Commitments InvestmentCommitments	541000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Investment Commitments Limited Partnerships InvestmentCommitmentsLimitedPartnerships	223000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Investment Commitments Limited Private Placements InvestmentCommitmentsLimitedPrivatePlacements	191000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Investment Commitments Mortgage Loans InvestmentCommitmentsMortgageLoans	117000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Number Of Partnerships In Alternative Investment Portfolio NumberOfPartnershipsInAlternativeInvestmentPortfolio	96	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Number Of Partnerships In Alternative Investment Portfolio NumberOfPartnershipsInAlternativeInvestmentPortfolio	95	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Projected Default Rate On Existing Deliquencies Percent Low End Of Range ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentLowEndOfRange	0.25	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Projected Default Rate On Existing Deliquencies Percent High End Of Range ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentHighEndOfRange	1.00	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Severity Of Second Lien Defaulted Loans SeverityOfSecondLienDefaultedLoans	1.00	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Severity Of First Lien Loans Assumed Mimimum Percent SeverityOfFirstLienLoansAssumedMimimumPercent	0.30	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Securities Lending Agreements Domestic CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueSecuritiesLendingAgreementsDomestic	1.02	pure
CY2011	lnc	Available For Sale Securities Change In Gross Unrealized Holding Gain Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInGrossUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss	299000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Projected Default Rate On Existing Deliquencies Percent High End Of Range ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentHighEndOfRange	1.00	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Projected Default Rate On Existing Deliquencies Percent Low End Of Range ProjectedDefaultRateOnExistingDeliquenciesPercentLowEndOfRange	0.25	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Securities Lending Agreements Domestic CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueSecuritiesLendingAgreementsDomestic	1.02	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Securities Lending Agreements Foreign CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueSecuritiesLendingAgreementsForeign	1.05	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Reverse Repurchase Agreements CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueReverseRepurchaseAgreements	0.95	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Talf CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueTalf	0.90	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Fhlbi Low End Of Range CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueFhlbiLowEndOfRange	0.85	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Obtained Percent Of Fair Value Fhlbi High End Of Range CollateralObtainedPercentOfFairValueFhlbiHighEndOfRange	0.95	pure
CY2011Q4	invest	Derivative Notional Amount DerivativeNotionalAmount	51360000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	3151000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	3473000000	USD
CY2010Q4	invest	Derivative Notional Amount DerivativeNotionalAmount	34438000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	1076000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	1441000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	0	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life Less Than1 Year RemainingLifeLessThan1Year	10836000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life1 To5 Years RemainingLife1To5Years	14778000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life6 To10 Years RemainingLife6To10Years	16083000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life11 To30 Years RemainingLife11To30Years	9654000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life Over30 Years RemainingLifeOver30Years	9000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Remaining Life Total Years RemainingLifeTotalYears	51360000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-426000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-140000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Derivative Instruments Gain Loss Recognized In Income Net DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeNet	-988000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNet	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNet	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNet	-1000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss Reclassified To Investment Income Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToInvestmentIncomeNet	-13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss Reclassified To Investment Income Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToInvestmentIncomeNet	6000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss Reclassified To Investment Income Net CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToInvestmentIncomeNet	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnFairValueHedgeIneffectivenessNet	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnFairValueHedgeIneffectivenessNet	1000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedge Ineffectiveness Net GainLossOnFairValueHedgeIneffectivenessNet	1000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	4000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	4000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnFairValueHedgingInstruments	4000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Number Of Credit Risk Derivatives Held NumberOfCreditRiskDerivativesHeld	9	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Credit Derivative Current Fair Value CreditDerivativeCurrentFairValue	-16000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Needed For Immediate Settlement Aggregate Fair Value AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue	148000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Number Of Credit Risk Derivatives Held NumberOfCreditRiskDerivativesHeld	9	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivatives FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisReinsuranceRelatedEmbeddedDerivatives	-102000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Credit Derivative Current Fair Value CreditDerivativeCurrentFairValue	-16000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Assets Needed For Immediate Settlement Aggregate Fair Value AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue	145000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Less Counterparty Thresholds LessCounterpartyThresholds	0	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Less Counterparty Thresholds LessCounterpartyThresholds	10000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Additional Collateral Aggregate Fair Value AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue	148000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Additional Collateral Aggregate Fair Value AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue	135000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Posted By Counterparty Held By Lnc CollateralPostedByCounterpartyHeldByLnc	3170000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Posted By Lnc Held By Counterparty CollateralPostedByLncHeldByCounterparty	-120000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Posted By Counterparty Held By Lnc CollateralPostedByCounterpartyHeldByLnc	1149000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Collateral Posted By Lnc Held By Counterparty CollateralPostedByLncHeldByCounterparty	-299000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified Within Twelve Months CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths	20000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Collateral Requirement If Netting Agreements Not In Place CollateralRequirementIfNettingAgreementsNotInPlace	16000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Nonperformance Risk Adjustment NonperformanceRiskAdjustment	16000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Exposure Associated With Collateralization Events ExposureAssociatedWithCollateralizationEvents	81000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	16000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	281000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-138000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	421000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-751000000	USD
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CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits PresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfits	1378000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits PresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfits	2086000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits PresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfits	3762000000	USD
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CY2010	us-gaap	Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits Additions From Acquisitions PresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsAdditionsFromAcquisitions	0	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Expected Amortization Expense Of Ending Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits Year One ExpectedAmortizationExpenseOfEndingPresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsYearOne	117000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Expected Amortization Expense Of Ending Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits Year Four ExpectedAmortizationExpenseOfEndingPresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsYearFour	68000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Expected Amortization Expense Of Ending Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits Year Five ExpectedAmortizationExpenseOfEndingPresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsYearFive	64000000	USD
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CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Sales Inducements Additions DeferredSalesInducementsAdditions	66000000	USD
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CY2010	lnc	Deferred Sales Inducements Net Amortization Expense Effect Of Adjustments To Estimated Gross Profit DeferredSalesInducementsNetAmortizationExpenseEffectOfAdjustmentsToEstimatedGrossProfit	7000000	USD
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CY2010	lnc	Deferred Sales Inducements Amortization Expense Net Investment Gains Losses DeferredSalesInducementsAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses	-8000000	USD
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CY2009	us-gaap	Deferred Sales Inducements Additions DeferredSalesInducementsAdditions	76000000	USD
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CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Sales Inducements Net DeferredSalesInducementsNet	286000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Sales Inducements Net DeferredSalesInducementsNet	323000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Sales Inducements Net DeferredSalesInducementsNet	263000000	USD
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CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditions	544000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Assumption Changes DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingAssumptionChanges	5000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Effect Of Model Refinements DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingEffectOfModelRefinements	26000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Effect Of Adjustments To Estimated Gross Profit DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseEffectOfAdjustmentsToEstimatedGrossProfit	15000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Other Amortization Net Of Interest DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseOtherAmortizationNetOfInterest	-180000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Net Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses	-9000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditions	546000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Assumption Changes DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingAssumptionChanges	-57000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Effect Of Model Refinements DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingEffectOfModelRefinements	56000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Effect Of Adjustments To Estimated Gross Profit DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseEffectOfAdjustmentsToEstimatedGrossProfit	-23000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Other Amortization Net Of Interest DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseOtherAmortizationNetOfInterest	-173000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Unrealized Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseUnrealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	-534000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Net Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses	-8000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Unrealized Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseUnrealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	-177000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditions	497000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Assumption Changes DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingAssumptionChanges	-22000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Prospective Unlocking Effect Of Model Refinements DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseProspectiveUnlockingEffectOfModelRefinements	0	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Effect Of Adjustments To Estimated Gross Profit DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseEffectOfAdjustmentsToEstimatedGrossProfit	-16000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Other Amortization Net Of Interest DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseOtherAmortizationNetOfInterest	-129000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Net Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseNetInvestmentGainsLosses	-1000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Amortization Expense Unrealized Investment Gains Losses DeferredFrontEndLoadsAmortizationExpenseUnrealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	1000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads DeferredFrontEndLoads	1502000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads DeferredFrontEndLoads	1338000000	USD
CY2008Q4	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads DeferredFrontEndLoads	1019000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions From Acquisitions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditionsFromAcquisitions	-11000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions From Acquisitions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditionsFromAcquisitions	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Front End Loads Additions From Acquisitions DeferredFrontEndLoadsAdditionsFromAcquisitions	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Interest Accrual Rate Associated With Amortization Method Of Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits Low End InterestAccrualRateAssociatedWithAmortizationMethodOfPresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsLowEnd	0.034	pure
CY2011	lnc	Interest Accrual Rate Associated With Amortization Method Of Present Value Of Future Insurance Profits High End InterestAccrualRateAssociatedWithAmortizationMethodOfPresentValueOfFutureInsuranceProfitsHighEnd	0.0725	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Direct Premiums Written DirectPremiumsWritten	6997000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Assumed Premiums Written AssumedPremiumsWritten	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Ceded Premiums Written CededPremiumsWritten	1276000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Premiums Written Net PremiumsWrittenNet	5731000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Gross PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross	4897000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Reinsurance Costs And Recoveries Net ReinsuranceCostsAndRecoveriesNet	1552000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Direct Premiums Written DirectPremiumsWritten	6599000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Assumed Premiums Written AssumedPremiumsWritten	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Ceded Premiums Written CededPremiumsWritten	1202000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Premiums Written Net PremiumsWrittenNet	5410000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Gross PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross	4547000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Reinsurance Costs And Recoveries Net ReinsuranceCostsAndRecoveriesNet	1220000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Direct Premiums Written DirectPremiumsWritten	6124000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Assumed Premiums Written AssumedPremiumsWritten	10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Ceded Premiums Written CededPremiumsWritten	1148000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Premiums Written Net PremiumsWrittenNet	4986000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Gross PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross	3891000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Reinsurance Costs And Recoveries Net ReinsuranceCostsAndRecoveriesNet	1057000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Maximum Retention Per Single Insured Life On Fixed And Vul Insurance Contracts MaximumRetentionPerSingleInsuredLifeOnFixedAndVulInsuranceContracts	11000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Maximum Retention Per Single Insured Life For Term Life And Corporate Owned Life Insurance Contracts MaximumRetentionPerSingleInsuredLifeForTermLifeAndCorporateOwnedLifeInsuranceContracts	1000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Reserves Associated With Modified Coinsurance ReservesAssociatedWithModifiedCoinsurance	878000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Percent Of Mortality Risk Reinsured On Newly Issued Non Term Life Insurance Contracts Low End PercentOfMortalityRiskReinsuredOnNewlyIssuedNonTermLifeInsuranceContractsLowEnd	0.25	pure
CY2011	lnc	Percent Of Mortality Risk Reinsured On Newly Issued Non Term Life Insurance Contracts High End PercentOfMortalityRiskReinsuredOnNewlyIssuedNonTermLifeInsuranceContractsHighEnd	0.30	pure
CY2011	lnc	Percent Of Total Mortality Risk Reinsured Including Term Insurance Contracts Low End PercentOfTotalMortalityRiskReinsuredIncludingTermInsuranceContractsLowEnd	0.30	pure
CY2011	lnc	Percent Of Total Mortality Risk Reinsured Including Term Insurance Contracts High End PercentOfTotalMortalityRiskReinsuredIncludingTermInsuranceContractsHighEnd	0.35	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	3863000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Goodwill Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	-747000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	1000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Inpairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedInpairmentLoss	-844000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	3857000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Goodwill Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	6000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	0	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Inpairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedInpairmentLoss	-844000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	224000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	224000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	26000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	22000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year One FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOne	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Two FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Three FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThree	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Four FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFour	4000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Future Amortization Expense Year Five FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFive	4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross GuaranteedBenefitLiabilityGross	44000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross GuaranteedBenefitLiabilityGross	71000000	USD
CY2008Q4	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross GuaranteedBenefitLiabilityGross	277000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross GuaranteedBenefitLiabilityGross	84000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Incurred GuaranteedBenefitsIncurred	93000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Paid GuaranteedBenefitsPaid	-53000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Incurred GuaranteedBenefitsIncurred	57000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Paid GuaranteedBenefitsPaid	-84000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Incurred GuaranteedBenefitsIncurred	-33000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Guaranteed Benefits Paid GuaranteedBenefitsPaid	-173000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Variable Annuity Account Balances With Guarantees VariableAnnuityAccountBalancesWithGuarantees	71008000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Variable Annuity Account Balances With Guarantees VariableAnnuityAccountBalancesWithGuarantees	71469000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Percent Of Total Variable Annuity Separate Account Values PercentOfTotalVariableAnnuitySeparateAccountValues	0.98	pure
CY2010Q4	lnc	Percent Of Total Variable Annuity Separate Account Values PercentOfTotalVariableAnnuitySeparateAccountValues	0.98	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Percent Of Permanent Life Insurance In Force PercentOfPermanentLifeInsuranceInForce	0.38	pure
CY2011	lnc	Percent Of Permanent Life Insurance Sales PercentOfPermanentLifeInsuranceSales	0.43	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Commercial Paper CommercialPaper	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Commercial Paper CommercialPaper	100000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	300000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	250000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Short Term Borrowings OtherShortTermBorrowings	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Other Short Term Borrowings OtherShortTermBorrowings	1000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	-16000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	-19000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Hedge On Interest Rate Swap FairValueHedgeOnInterestRateSwap	319000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Hedge On Interest Rate Swap FairValueHedgeOnInterestRateSwap	55000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net And Fair Value Hedge DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNetAndFairValueHedge	303000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net And Fair Value Hedge DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNetAndFairValueHedge	36000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	300000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	200000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	500000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	250000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	0	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	4138000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	5388000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Letters Of Credit Issued LettersOfCreditIssued	2040000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Current Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity	3821000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Debt Weighted Average Interest Rate ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate	0.0020	pure
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Debt Weighted Average Interest Rate ShortTermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate	0.0041	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Minimum Net Worth Required For Compliance MinimumNetWorthRequiredForCompliance	9200000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Percentage Of Aggregate Net Proceeds Of Equity Issuances PercentageOfAggregateNetProceedsOfEquityIssuances	0.50	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Ratio Of Indebtedness To Net Capital Low End RatioOfIndebtednessToNetCapitalLowEnd	0.35	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Ratio Of Indebtedness To Net Capital High End RatioOfIndebtednessToNetCapitalHighEnd	1.00	pure
CY2011	lnc	Risk Based Capital Ratio Threshold RiskBasedCapitalRatioThreshold	1.75	pure
CY2011Q4	lnc	Line Of Credit Facility Capacity Available For Specific Purpose Other Than For Trade Purchases LineOfCreditFacilityCapacityAvailableForSpecificPurposeOtherThanForTradePurchases	1000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sale Leaseback Transaction Lease Terms SaleLeasebackTransactionLeaseTerms	Certain subsidiaries of ours lease their home office properties. In 2006, we exercised the right and option to extend the Fort Wayne lease for two extended terms such that the lease shall expire in 2019. We retain our right and option to exercise the remaining four extended terms of five years each in accordance with the lease agreement. These agreements also provide us with the right of first refusal to purchase the properties at a price defined in the agreements and the option to purchase the leased properties at fair market value on the last day of any renewal period. In 2007, we exercised the right and option to extend the Hartford lease for one extended term such that the lease shall expire in 2013. During 2007, we moved our corporate headquarters to Radnor, Pennsylvania from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and entered into a new 13-year lease for office space.
CY2009	lnc	Increase To Benefits Net Of Tax IncreaseToBenefitsNetOfTax	129000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Decrease To Net Income Due To Rescission Of Indemnity Reinsurance DecreaseToNetIncomeDueToRescissionOfIndemnityReinsurance	97000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	40000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	35000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	31000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	26000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	22000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase To Interest Credited Net Of Tax IncreaseToInterestCreditedNetOfTax	15000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase To Underwriting Acquisition Insurance And Other Expenses Net Of Tax IncreaseToUnderwritingAcquisitionInsuranceAndOtherExpensesNetOfTax	5000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Tax Benefit Offset Related To Write Down Of Reinsurance Recoverable TaxBenefitOffsetRelatedToWriteDownOfReinsuranceRecoverable	52000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Increase To Net Income Due To Rescission Of Indemnity Reinsurance IncreaseToNetIncomeDueToRescissionOfIndemnityReinsurance	31000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Effect To Net Income Due To Rescission Of Indemnity Reinsurance EffectToNetIncomeDueToRescissionOfIndemnityReinsurance	66000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Reduction In Reinsurance Recoverables ReductionInReinsuranceRecoverables	900000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Reduction In Funds Withheld Liability ReductionInFundsWithheldLiability	840000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	46000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	55000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual Insurance Related Assessment Premium Tax Offset LossContingencyAccrualInsuranceRelatedAssessmentPremiumTaxOffset	31000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual Insurance Related Assessment Premium Tax Offset LossContingencyAccrualInsuranceRelatedAssessmentPremiumTaxOffset	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	42000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Common Stock Assuming Conversion Of Preferred Stock CommonStockAssumingConversionOfPreferredStock	291480374	shares
CY2010	lnc	Common Stock Assuming Conversion Of Preferred Stock CommonStockAssumingConversionOfPreferredStock	315893178	shares
CY2009	lnc	Common Stock Assuming Conversion Of Preferred Stock CommonStockAssumingConversionOfPreferredStock	302407233	shares
CY2011	lnc	Common Stock Diluted Basis CommonStockDilutedBasis	298225244	shares
CY2010	lnc	Common Stock Diluted Basis CommonStockDilutedBasis	324043137	shares
CY2009	lnc	Common Stock Diluted Basis CommonStockDilutedBasis	311846021	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Direct Taxes And Licenses Costs DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts	197000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Merger Related Expenses MergerRelatedExpenses	9000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	307216181	shares
CY2011	lnc	Shares To Cover Exercise Of Cpp Warrant SharesToCoverExerciseOfCppWarrant	10150292	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	173289	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Nonvested Shares With Forfeitable Dividends IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToNonvestedSharesWithForfeitableDividends	813905	shares
CY2011	lnc	Average Stock Options Outstanding During Period AverageStockOptionsOutstandingDuringPeriod	636989	shares
CY2011	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds From Exercising Cpp Warrant AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsFromExercisingCppWarrant	-4658020	shares
CY2011	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds And Benefits From Exercising Stock Options At Average Market Price AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsAndBenefitsFromExercisingStockOptionsAtAverageMarketPrice	-427425	shares
CY2011	lnc	Shares Repurchaseable From Measured But Unrecognized Stock Option Expense SharesRepurchaseableFromMeasuredButUnrecognizedStockOptionExpense	-65882	shares
CY2011	lnc	Average Deferred Compensation Shares AverageDeferredCompensationShares	1110722	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	314950051	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	310005264	shares
CY2010	lnc	Shares To Cover Exercise Of Cpp Warrant SharesToCoverExerciseOfCppWarrant	12260236	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	178720	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Nonvested Shares With Forfeitable Dividends IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToNonvestedSharesWithForfeitableDividends	616314	shares
CY2010	lnc	Average Stock Options Outstanding During Period AverageStockOptionsOutstandingDuringPeriod	707704	shares
CY2010	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds From Exercising Cpp Warrant AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsFromExercisingCppWarrant	-5148473	shares
CY2010	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds And Benefits From Exercising Stock Options At Average Market Price AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsAndBenefitsFromExercisingStockOptionsAtAverageMarketPrice	-464813	shares
CY2010	lnc	Shares Repurchaseable From Measured But Unrecognized Stock Option Expense SharesRepurchaseableFromMeasuredButUnrecognizedStockOptionExpense	-139673	shares
CY2010	lnc	Average Deferred Compensation Shares AverageDeferredCompensationShares	1198468	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	319213747	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	280031363	shares
CY2009	lnc	Shares To Cover Exercise Of Cpp Warrant SharesToCoverExerciseOfCppWarrant	6209013	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Preferred Stock IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfPreferredStock	184687	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Nonvested Shares With Forfeitable Dividends IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToNonvestedSharesWithForfeitableDividends	550700	shares
CY2009	lnc	Average Stock Options Outstanding During Period AverageStockOptionsOutstandingDuringPeriod	401369	shares
CY2009	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds From Exercising Cpp Warrant AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsFromExercisingCppWarrant	-2945429	shares
CY2009	lnc	Assumed Acquisition Of Shares With Assumed Proceeds And Benefits From Exercising Stock Options At Average Market Price AssumedAcquisitionOfSharesWithAssumedProceedsAndBenefitsFromExercisingStockOptionsAtAverageMarketPrice	-275543	shares
CY2009	lnc	Shares Repurchaseable From Measured But Unrecognized Stock Option Expense SharesRepurchaseableFromMeasuredButUnrecognizedStockOptionExpense	-85511	shares
CY2009	lnc	Average Deferred Compensation Shares AverageDeferredCompensationShares	1564954	shares
CY2009	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	285635603	shares
CY2011	lnc	Deferred Compensation Plan Mark To Market Adjustment DeferredCompensationPlanMarkToMarketAdjustment	-4000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Deferred Compensation Plan Mark To Market Adjustment DeferredCompensationPlanMarkToMarketAdjustment	-1000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On The Mark To Market On Certain Instruments RealizedGainLossOnTheMarkToMarketOnCertainInstruments	-83000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Gross Gain IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsGrossGain	2000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Associated Amortization Income Expense IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	-2000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.01
CY2009	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Gross Gain IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsGrossGain	8000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Associated Amortization Income Expense IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	-4000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On Sale Of Subsidiaries And Businesses RealizedGainLossOnSaleOfSubsidiariesAndBusinesses	1000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On Sale Of Subsidiaries And Businesses RealizedGainLossOnSaleOfSubsidiariesAndBusinesses	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On The Mark To Market On Certain Instruments RealizedGainLossOnTheMarkToMarketOnCertainInstruments	75000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Gross Gain IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsGrossGain	34000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Indexed Annuity Net Derivative Results Associated Amortization Income Expense IndexedAnnuityNetDerivativeResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	-15000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On Sale Of Subsidiaries And Businesses RealizedGainLossOnSaleOfSubsidiariesAndBusinesses	0	USD
CY2009	lnc	Realized Gain Loss On The Mark To Market On Certain Instruments RealizedGainLossOnTheMarkToMarketOnCertainInstruments	36000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Gross Gain Loss VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsGrossGainLoss	-60000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Associated Amortization Income Expense VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	-5000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Gross Gain Loss VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsGrossGainLoss	56000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Associated Amortization Income Expense VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	-47000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Associated Amortization Income Expense VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsAssociatedAmortizationIncomeExpense	61000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Variable Annuity Net Derivatives Results Gross Gain Loss VariableAnnuityNetDerivativesResultsGrossGainLoss	-710000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Insurance Commissions InsuranceCommissions	1672000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	General And Administrative Expense GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1422000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Dac And Voba Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DacAndVobaDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-651000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Insurance Commissions InsuranceCommissions	1616000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	General And Administrative Expense GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1412000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Dac And Voba Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DacAndVobaDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-583000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Insurance Commissions InsuranceCommissions	1543000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	General And Administrative Expense GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1284000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Dac And Voba Deferrals And Interest Net Of Amortization DacAndVobaDeferralsAndInterestNetOfAmortization	-598000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Other Intangibles Amortization OtherIntangiblesAmortization	4000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Media Expenses MediaExpenses	69000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Direct Taxes And Licenses Costs DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts	247000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Merger Related Expenses MergerRelatedExpenses	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Reserve Financing Expenses ReserveFinancingExpenses	47000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	34000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Broker Dealer Expenses BrokerDealerExpenses	353000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Reserve Financing Expenses ReserveFinancingExpenses	7000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Reserve Financing Expenses ReserveFinancingExpenses	34000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Broker Dealer Expenses BrokerDealerExpenses	320000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Broker Dealer Expenses BrokerDealerExpenses	290000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	-1000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Other Intangibles Amortization OtherIntangiblesAmortization	4000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Media Expenses MediaExpenses	53000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Direct Taxes And Licenses Costs DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts	160000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Merger Related Expenses MergerRelatedExpenses	17000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Dividends To Parent Company DividendsToParentCompany	684000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Gain From Operations After Tax Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetGainFromOperationsAfterTaxAmount	913000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Income Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount	-4000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Dividends To Parent Company DividendsToParentCompany	455000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Expected Us Pension Plans Expense For Next Year ExpectedUsPensionPlansExpenseForNextYear	13000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Expected Uk Pension Plan Expense For Next Year ExpectedUkPensionPlanExpenseForNextYear	2000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Amounts That Will Be Amortized From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss In Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsThatWillBeAmortizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossInNextFiscalYear	26000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Average Pounds Sterling To Us Dollar Exchange Rate AveragePoundsSterlingToUsDollarExchangeRate	1.56	USD
CY2011	lnc	Defined Benefit Plan Pre65 Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed For Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanPre65HealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	0.085	pure
CY2011	lnc	Defined Benefit Plan Post65 Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed For Next Fiscal Year DefinedBenefitPlanPost65HealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	0.085	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Pension Contributions PensionContributions	25000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Liability Current And Noncurrent DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent	354000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Liability Current And Noncurrent DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent	363000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Plan Assets DeferredCompensationPlanAssets	133000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Compensation Plan Assets DeferredCompensationPlanAssets	130000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	67000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	62000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	63000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	22000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	16000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	8000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	6000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	5000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Unrecognized Compensation Costs On Nonvested Awards EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsOnNonvestedAwards	28000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Unrecognized Compensation Costs On Nonvested Awards EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsOnNonvestedAwards	24000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Unrecognized Compensation Costs On Nonvested Awards EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationUnrecognizedCompensationCostsOnNonvestedAwards	21000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Corporate Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCorporateBonds	59261000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Requisite Service Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod	3
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Requisite Service Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod	3
CY2009	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Requisite Service Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod	3
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Capital And Surplus Balance StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryCapitalAndSurplusBalance	7264000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Capital And Surplus Balance StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryCapitalAndSurplusBalance	6955000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Gain From Operations After Tax Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetGainFromOperationsAfterTaxAmount	323000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Income Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount	135000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Dividends To Parent Company DividendsToParentCompany	818000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Gain From Operations After Tax Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetGainFromOperationsAfterTaxAmount	557000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Net Income Amount StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount	432000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Statutory Accounting Practices Statutory Amount Available For Dividend Payments StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryAmountAvailableForDividendPayments	675000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Us Government Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesUsGovernmentBonds	494000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Foreign Government Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesForeignGovernmentBonds	733000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCommercialMortgageBackedSecurities	1600000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Collateralized Debt Obligations FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCollateralizedDebtObligations	102000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities State And Municipal Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesStateAndMunicipalBonds	4047000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Hybrid And Redeemable Preferred Stocks FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesHybridAndRedeemablePreferredStocks	1157000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Afs Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsVariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturityAfsSecurities	700000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Trading Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsTradingSecurities	2675000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssets	3151000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Cash And Cash Equivalents FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCashAndCashEquivalents	4510000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Separate Account Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisSeparateAccountAssets	83477000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Total Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalAssets	170085000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Future Contract Benefits Indexed Annuity Contracts FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFutureContractBenefitsIndexedAnnuityContracts	-399000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Future Contract Benefits Guaranteed Living Benefits Embedded Derivative Reserves FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFutureContractBenefitsGuaranteedLivingBenefitsEmbeddedDerivativeReserves	-2217000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Long Term Debt Interest Rate Swap Agreements FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisLongTermDebtInterestRateSwapAgreements	-319000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivatives FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisReinsuranceRelatedEmbeddedDerivatives	-168000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Variable Interest Entities Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisVariableInterestEntitiesLiabilities	-291000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Other Liabilities Deferred Compensation Plans FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherLiabilitiesDeferredCompensationPlans	-354000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Other Liabilities Credit Default Swaps FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherLiabilitiesCreditDefaultSwaps	-16000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Total Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalLiabilities	-3764000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Residential Mortgage Backed Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesResidentialMortgageBackedSecurities	8039000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Equity Available For Sale Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisEquityAvailableForSaleSecurities	139000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Benefit Plans Assets FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisBenefitPlansAssets	1345000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Corporate Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCorporateBonds	51740000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Us Government Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesUsGovernmentBonds	165000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Foreign Government Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesForeignGovernmentBonds	508000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCommercialMortgageBackedSecurities	2053000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Collateralized Debt Obligations FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesCollateralizedDebtObligations	174000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities State And Municipal Bonds FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesStateAndMunicipalBonds	3155000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Hybrid And Redeemable Preferred Stocks FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesHybridAndRedeemablePreferredStocks	1397000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Trading Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsTradingSecurities	2596000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Derivative Financial Instruments Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssets	1076000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Cash And Cash Equivalents FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCashAndCashEquivalents	2741000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Separate Account Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisSeparateAccountAssets	84630000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Total Assets FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalAssets	159854000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Future Contract Benefits Indexed Annuity Contracts FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFutureContractBenefitsIndexedAnnuityContracts	-497000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Future Contract Benefits Guaranteed Living Benefits Embedded Derivative Reserves FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFutureContractBenefitsGuaranteedLivingBenefitsEmbeddedDerivativeReserves	-408000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Other Liabilities Deferred Compensation Plans FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherLiabilitiesDeferredCompensationPlans	-363000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Other Liabilities Credit Default Swaps FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherLiabilitiesCreditDefaultSwaps	-16000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Total Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotalLiabilities	-1650000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Long Term Debt Interest Rate Swap Agreements FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisLongTermDebtInterestRateSwapAgreements	-55000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Variable Interest Entities Liabilities FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisVariableInterestEntitiesLiabilities	-209000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Variable Interest Entities Fixed Maturity Afs Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsVariableInterestEntitiesFixedMaturityAfsSecurities	584000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Purchases Sales Issuances Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements	-36000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Transfers Net FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetTransfersNet	112000000	USD
CY2011Q4	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetValue	1697000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Investments Fixed Maturity Afs Securities Residential Mortgage Backed Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisInvestmentsFixedMaturityAfsSecuritiesResidentialMortgageBackedSecurities	8838000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Assets Measured On Recurring Basis Equity Available For Sale Securities FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisEquityAvailableForSaleSecurities	197000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Liabilities Measured On Recurring Basis Benefit Plans Assets FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisBenefitPlansAssets	1269000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInEarnings	-1445000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	446000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInEarnings	-62000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	447000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Purchases Sales Issuances Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements	-33000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Transfers Net FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetTransfersNet	-978000000	USD
CY2010Q4	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetValue	2620000000	USD
CY2008Q4	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetValue	2043000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Earnings FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInEarnings	1259000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Gain Loss Included In Other Comprehensive Income FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncome	691000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Purchases Sales Issuances Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetPurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlements	-105000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Transfers Net FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetTransfersNet	-642000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Net Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityNetValue	3246000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Issuances FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsIssuances	653000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Maturities FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsMaturities	-293000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Sales FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsSales	-339000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Settlements FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsSettlements	34000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Calls FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsCalls	-91000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Unobservable Input Investment Holdings Movements Net FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareUnobservableInputInvestmentHoldingsMovementsNet	-36000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Changes In Unrealized Gains Losses Within Level3 Financial Instruments Carried At Fair Value And Still Held ChangesInUnrealizedGainsLossesWithinLevel3FinancialInstrumentsCarriedAtFairValueAndStillHeld	-1245000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Changes In Unrealized Gains Losses Within Level3 Financial Instruments Carried At Fair Value And Still Held ChangesInUnrealizedGainsLossesWithinLevel3FinancialInstrumentsCarriedAtFairValueAndStillHeld	1857000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Changes In Unrealized Gains Losses Within Level3 Financial Instruments Carried At Fair Value And Still Held ChangesInUnrealizedGainsLossesWithinLevel3FinancialInstrumentsCarriedAtFairValueAndStillHeld	271000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Transfers In FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityTransfersIn	274000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Transfers Out FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityTransfersOut	-162000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Transfers Out FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityTransfersOut	-923000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Liability Transfers In FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLiabilityTransfersIn	-55000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2010	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Given SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationGiven	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Gain SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsGain	4000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.60
CY2011	lnc	Amortization Of Dac And Voba Net Of Interest AmortizationOfDacAndVobaNetOfInterest	1050000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Amortization Of Dac And Voba Net Of Interest AmortizationOfDacAndVobaNetOfInterest	1084000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Amortization Of Dac And Voba Net Of Interest AmortizationOfDacAndVobaNetOfInterest	1053000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	287000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-36000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Assets Acquired2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfAssetsAcquired2010	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed2010	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Assets Disposed Due To Business Dispositions AssetsDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Liabilities Disposed Due To Business Dispositions LiabilitiesDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	3000000	USD
CY2011	lnc	Foreign Currency Awards Released Due To Business Dispositions ForeignCurrencyAwardsReleasedDueToBusinessDispositions	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Received SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationReceived	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Given SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationGiven	0	USD
CY2011	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Gain SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsGain	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	282000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2009	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	244000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-189000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.60
CY2010	lnc	Foreign Currency Awards Released Due To Business Dispositions ForeignCurrencyAwardsReleasedDueToBusinessDispositions	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	-459000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Received SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationReceived	4000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-107000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Assets Acquired2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfAssetsAcquired2010	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed2010	0	USD
CY2010	lnc	Assets Disposed Due To Business Dispositions AssetsDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	-509000000	USD
CY2010	lnc	Liabilities Disposed Due To Business Dispositions LiabilitiesDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	-116000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Assets Acquired2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfAssetsAcquired2010	-7000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Value Of Liabilities Assumed2010 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionValueOfLiabilitiesAssumed2010	7000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Assets Disposed Due To Business Dispositions AssetsDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	-8044000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Liabilities Disposed Due To Business Dispositions LiabilitiesDisposedDueToBusinessDispositions	-7457000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Foreign Currency Awards Released Due To Business Dispositions ForeignCurrencyAwardsReleasedDueToBusinessDispositions	54000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	-314000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Received SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationReceived	15000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Consideration Given SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsConsiderationGiven	5000000	USD
CY2009	lnc	Sale Of Subsidiaries Businesses Not Qualifying As Discontinued Operations Gain SaleOfSubsidiariesBusinessesNotQualifyingAsDiscontinuedOperationsGain	10000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2714000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2246000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	339000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	339000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2527000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2179000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	255000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	28000000	USD
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	283000000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.08
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.08
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.05
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.05
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.79
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.09
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.88
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.76
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.09
CY2010Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.85
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2804000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2363000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	325000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	325000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.04
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.04
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.01
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2548000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2409000000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2570000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	3019000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	-513000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	151000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-8000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.50
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.03
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.47
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.47
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.03
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.44
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-513000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	-1.73
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.73
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	-1.73
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.73
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2605000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2275000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	252000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	3000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	255000000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.34
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.01
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.35
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.32
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.01
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.33
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2613000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2310000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	248000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	-2000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	246000000	USD
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.79
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	-0.01
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.78
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.76
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	-0.01
CY2010Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.75
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2662000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Benefits Losses And Expenses BenefitsLossesAndExpenses	2409000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	196000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Attributable To Reporting Entity IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxAttributableToReportingEntity	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	196000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.62
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.62
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Summary Of Investments Other Than Investments In Related Parties Cost SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCost	84797000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Summary Of Investments Other Than Investments In Related Parties Carrying Amount SummaryOfInvestmentsOtherThanInvestmentsInRelatedPartiesCarryingAmount	93130000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Policy Claims And Benefits Payable SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherPolicyClaimsAndBenefitsPayable	69466000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Liability For Future Policy Benefits Losses Claims And Loss Expense Reserves SupplementaryInsuranceInformationLiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsLossesClaimsAndLossExpenseReserves	19813000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Unearned Premiums SupplementaryInsuranceInformationUnearnedPremiums	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premium Revenue SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumRevenue	2294000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Liability For Future Policy Benefits Losses Claims And Loss Expense Reserves SupplementaryInsuranceInformationLiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsLossesClaimsAndLossExpenseReserves	17527000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Unearned Premiums SupplementaryInsuranceInformationUnearnedPremiums	0	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Policy Claims And Benefits Payable SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherPolicyClaimsAndBenefitsPayable	66407000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premium Revenue SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumRevenue	2176000000	USD
CY2009Q4	lnc	Deferred Acquisition Costs And Value Of Business Acquired DeferredAcquisitionCostsAndValueOfBusinessAcquired	9510000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Liability For Future Policy Benefits Losses Claims And Loss Expense Reserves SupplementaryInsuranceInformationLiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsLossesClaimsAndLossExpenseReserves	17145000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Unearned Premiums SupplementaryInsuranceInformationUnearnedPremiums	0	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Policy Claims And Benefits Payable SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherPolicyClaimsAndBenefitsPayable	62964000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premium Revenue SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumRevenue	2064000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Net Investment Income SupplementaryInsuranceInformationNetInvestmentIncome	4652000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Benefits Claims Losses And Settlement Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationBenefitsClaimsLossesAndSettlementExpense	5833000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Operating Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherOperatingExpense	2407000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premiums Written SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumsWritten	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Operating Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherOperatingExpense	2274000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Net Investment Income SupplementaryInsuranceInformationNetInvestmentIncome	4541000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Benefits Claims Losses And Settlement Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationBenefitsClaimsLossesAndSettlementExpense	5815000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premiums Written SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumsWritten	0	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Net Investment Income SupplementaryInsuranceInformationNetInvestmentIncome	4178000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Benefits Claims Losses And Settlement Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationBenefitsClaimsLossesAndSettlementExpense	5299000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Other Operating Expense SupplementaryInsuranceInformationOtherOperatingExpense	1938000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Supplementary Insurance Information Premiums Written SupplementaryInsuranceInformationPremiumsWritten	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Ceded To Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountCededToOtherCompanies	1276000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Net Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentNetAmount	5731000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Assumed From Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountAssumedFromOtherCompanies	10000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Gross Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentGrossAmount	6997000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Gross Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentGrossAmount	6599000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Ceded To Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountCededToOtherCompanies	1202000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Assumed From Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountAssumedFromOtherCompanies	13000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Net Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentNetAmount	5410000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Gross Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentGrossAmount	6124000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Ceded To Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountCededToOtherCompanies	1148000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Amount Assumed From Other Companies ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAmountAssumedFromOtherCompanies	10000000	USD
CY2009	us-gaap	Reinsurance Premiums For Insurance Companies By Product Segment Net Amount ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentNetAmount	4986000000	USD
CY2011	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2011	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2011-12-31
CY2011	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2011	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP
CY2011	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000059558
CY2011	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2011	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2011	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2011	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2011	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2012Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	291330818	shares
CY2011Q4	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	8800000000000000	USD
CY2011	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2011

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
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0000059558-12-000027-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000059558-12-000027.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0000059558-12-000027-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit1022.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit311.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit312.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
form10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lnc-20111231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
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lnc-20111231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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lnc-20111231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
lnc-20111231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$LNC
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP Stock $lnc

2010 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000005955812000027 Filed on February 23, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LNC LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP Stock $lnc

2010 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000005955812000027 Filed on February 23, 2012

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LNC
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP Stock $lnc