Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	1. Significant Accounting Policies Description of Trust The MetLife Policyholder Trust (the “Trust”) was established under the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“Metropolitan Life”) plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and pursuant to the MetLife Policyholder Trust Agreement, dated as of November 3, 1999, by and among Metropolitan Life, MetLife, Inc., Wilmington Trust Company (not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee for the Trust, the “Trustee”) and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as custodian (now known as Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, the “Custodian”), as amended on November 8, 2001 (the “Trust Agreement”), in connection with the conversion of Metropolitan Life from a mutual life insurance company to a stock life insurance company. The Trust is a single-purpose trust that does not engage in any business or activity other than voting and holding the Trust Shares (as defined below) and certain closely related activities, such as distributing cash dividends. The Trust has no employees. Under the Plan and the Trust Agreement, each policyholder's membership interest was extinguished and certain eligible policyholders of Metropolitan Life (the “Trust Eligible Policyholders”) received, in exchange for that interest, a number of interests in the Trust (“Trust Interests”) equal to the number of shares of common stock of MetLife, Inc., par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), allocated to them in accordance with the Plan. The assets of the Trust consist principally of the shares of Common Stock issued to the Trust (the “Trust Shares”) for the benefit of the Trust Eligible Policyholders and permitted transferees (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”). The Trust Shares are held in the name of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, which has legal title over the Trust Shares. The Beneficiaries do not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust. The Trust Interests represent undivided fractional interests in the Trust Shares and other assets of the Trust beneficially owned by a Trust Beneficiary through the Custodian. On April 7, 2000, the date of demutualization of Metropolitan Life, MetLife, Inc. distributed to the Trust 494,466,664 shares of Common Stock for the benefit of policyholders of Metropolitan Life. Withdrawals by Beneficiaries of Trust Shares, transactions by Beneficiaries under the Purchase and Sale Program (as defined below), and escheatment of unclaimed Trust Shares resulted in a net decrease in the number of Trust Shares from 222,321,295 at December 31, 2010 to 212,891,322 at December 31, 2011. See “— Termination of the Trust.” A Trust Interest entitles the Beneficiary to certain rights, including the right to: (i) receive dividends distributed upon Trust Shares; (ii) have Trust Shares withdrawn from the Trust to be sold for cash through a purchase and sale program established by MetLife, Inc. pursuant to the Plan (the “Purchase and Sale Program”); (iii) deposit in the Trust additional shares of Common Stock purchased through the Purchase and Sale Program; (iv) withdraw Trust Shares; and (v) instruct the Trustee to vote the Trust Shares on certain matters, each as further described in and limited by the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee has no beneficial interest in the Trust Shares. The Trust Agreement provides that MetLife, Inc. shall pay, or reimburse directly each of the Trustee and the Custodian for, all costs and expenses relating to the Trust, in the case of the Trustee, and relating to the holding of Trust Interests, in the case of the Custodian, including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses as provided in the Trust Agreement. MetLife, Inc. pays the Trustee an annual fee of $50 thousand. MetLife, Inc. paid to the Trustee $34 thousand, $28 thousand and $29 thousand for out-of-pocket expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. MetLife, Inc. paid to the Trust's independent auditors $43 thousand, $51 thousand and $50 thousand for audit fees for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. None of the aforementioned fees and expenses are included in the Trust's financial statements. MetLife, Inc. also provides the Trustee with certain management and administrative services. The accompanying financial statements of the Trust have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentations. Such reclassifications include reclassification from cost of Trust Interests escheated or withdrawn, as previously reported, of (i) $43,964 thousand and $50,269 thousand to cost of Trust Interests escheated, and (ii) $12,181 thousand and $13,635 thousand to cost of Trust Interests withdrawn, for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in the statements of changes in net assets. Termination of the Trust On November 1, 2010 (the “Acquisition Date”), MetLife, Inc. completed the acquisition of American Life Insurance Company from AM Holdings LLC (formerly known as ALICO Holdings LLC) (“AM Holdings”), a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”), and Delaware American Life Insurance Company from AIG (the “Acquisition”). In connection with the financing of the Acquisition, in August 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued 86,250,000 new shares of its Common Stock and, on the Acquisition Date, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings 78,239,712 new shares of its Common Stock and 6,857,000 shares of its Series B contingent convertible junior participating non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (the “Convertible Preferred Stock”) convertible into approximately 68,570,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to anti-dilution adjustments) upon a favorable vote of MetLife, Inc.'s common stockholders. On March 8, 2011, AM Holdings sold the 78,239,712 shares of Common Stock in a public offering concurrent with a public offering by MetLife, Inc. of 68,570,000 new shares of its Common Stock, the proceeds of which were used to repurchase and cancel all of the Convertible Preferred Stock. The number of Trust Shares declined to 212,891,322 as a result of withdrawals by Beneficiaries of Trust Shares, transactions by Beneficiaries under the Purchase and Sale Program and escheatment of unclaimed Trust Shares. The percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock owned by the Trust at December 31, 2011 decreased to 20.1% as a result of these withdrawals, transactions and escheatments, as well as due to the Common Stock issuances by MetLife, Inc. described above. Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust is eligible to be terminated at MetLife, Inc.'s discretion, as the Trust Shares constitute less than 25% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. MetLife, Inc. has advised the Trustee that it currently has no intention of voluntarily terminating the Trust. Additionally, the Trust will terminate on the first to occur of (i) the 90th day after the date on which the Trustee shall have received notice from MetLife, Inc. that the number of Trust Shares held by the Trust is equal to 10% or less of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) the date on which the last Trust Share shall have been withdrawn, distributed or exchanged. Equity Securities Equity securities are reported at their estimated fair value based on the quoted prices in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. As such, these securities are categorized as Level 1 in three-level fair value hierarchy in accordance with fair value measurement guidance. Unrealized investment gains and losses on securities are recorded in the Statements of Operations. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on a first-in first-out basis. The Trust Agreement provides that regular cash dividends, if any, collected or received by the Trustee with respect to the Trust Shares shall be distributed by the Custodian semi-annually to the Beneficiaries within 90 days after receipt by the Trustee. Distributions of all other cash dividends shall be made by the Custodian to the Beneficiaries on the first business day following the 30th day after the Trust receives the dividends. Alternatively, the Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee may arrange with MetLife, Inc. for the direct payment by MetLife, Inc. of such cash dividends to the Beneficiaries. Historically, MetLife, Inc. has used the latter method. See “— Receivable from MetLife, Inc. and Dividends Payable to Trust Beneficiaries.” All security transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Trust considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Receivable from MetLife, Inc. and Dividends Payable to Trust Beneficiaries. In accordance with the Trust Agreement, MetLife, Inc. distributes cash dividends directly to the Beneficiaries at the same time as the payment of dividends to MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders. In the event that dividends are undeliverable to the Beneficiaries, MetLife, Inc. retains such dividends until they are claimed by such Beneficiaries or escheated in accordance with applicable state law. Cash dividends that have been declared but are undeliverable to the Beneficiaries and the cash amounts of dividend checks that have not been cashed by the Beneficiaries have been recorded as a receivable from MetLife, Inc. and a liability of the Trust to such Beneficiaries. Income Taxes As a qualified regulated trust, the Trust is not subject to income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its taxable income during each fiscal year.

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Trust

The MetLife Policyholder Trust (the “Trust”) was established under the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“Metropolitan Life”) plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and pursuant to the MetLife Policyholder Trust Agreement, dated as of November 3, 1999, by and among Metropolitan Life, MetLife, Inc., Wilmington Trust Company (not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee for the Trust, the “Trustee”) and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as custodian (now known as Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, the “Custodian”), as amended on November 8, 2001 (the “Trust Agreement”), in connection with the conversion of Metropolitan Life from a mutual life insurance company to a stock life insurance company. The Trust is a single-purpose trust that does not engage in any business or activity other than voting and holding the Trust Shares (as defined below) and certain closely related activities, such as distributing cash dividends. The Trust has no employees.

Under the Plan and the Trust Agreement, each policyholder's membership interest was extinguished and certain eligible policyholders of Metropolitan Life (the “Trust Eligible Policyholders”) received, in exchange for that interest, a number of interests in the Trust (“Trust Interests”) equal to the number of shares of common stock of MetLife, Inc., par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), allocated to them in accordance with the Plan. The assets of the Trust consist principally of the shares of Common Stock issued to the Trust (the “Trust Shares”) for the benefit of the Trust Eligible Policyholders and permitted transferees (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”). The Trust Shares are held in the name of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, which has legal title over the Trust Shares. The Beneficiaries do not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust. The Trust Interests represent undivided fractional interests in the Trust Shares and other assets of the Trust beneficially owned by a Trust Beneficiary through the Custodian. On April 7, 2000, the date of demutualization of Metropolitan Life, MetLife, Inc. distributed to the Trust 494,466,664 shares of Common Stock for the benefit of policyholders of Metropolitan Life. Withdrawals by Beneficiaries of Trust Shares, transactions by Beneficiaries under the Purchase and Sale Program (as defined below), and escheatment of unclaimed Trust Shares resulted in a net decrease in the number of Trust Shares from 222,321,295 at December 31, 2010 to 212,891,322 at December 31, 2011. See “— Termination of the Trust.”

A Trust Interest entitles the Beneficiary to certain rights, including the right to: (i) receive dividends distributed upon Trust Shares; (ii) have Trust Shares withdrawn from the Trust to be sold for cash through a purchase and sale program established by MetLife, Inc. pursuant to the Plan (the “Purchase and Sale Program”); (iii) deposit in the Trust additional shares of Common Stock purchased through the Purchase and Sale Program; (iv) withdraw Trust Shares; and (v) instruct the Trustee to vote the Trust Shares on certain matters, each as further described in and limited by the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee has no beneficial interest in the Trust Shares.

The Trust Agreement provides that MetLife, Inc. shall pay, or reimburse directly each of the Trustee and the Custodian for, all costs and expenses relating to the Trust, in the case of the Trustee, and relating to the holding of Trust Interests, in the case of the Custodian, including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses as provided in the Trust Agreement. MetLife, Inc. pays the Trustee an annual fee of $50 thousand. MetLife, Inc. paid to the Trustee $34 thousand, $28 thousand and $29 thousand for out-of-pocket expenses for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. MetLife, Inc. paid to the Trust's independent auditors $43 thousand, $51 thousand and $50 thousand for audit fees for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. None of the aforementioned fees and expenses are included in the Trust's financial statements. MetLife, Inc. also provides the Trustee with certain management and administrative services.

The accompanying financial statements of the Trust have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 presentations. Such reclassifications include reclassification from cost of Trust Interests escheated or withdrawn, as previously reported, of (i) $43,964 thousand and $50,269 thousand to cost of Trust Interests escheated, and (ii) $12,181 thousand and $13,635 thousand to cost of Trust Interests withdrawn, for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in the statements of changes in net assets.

Termination of the Trust

On November 1, 2010 (the “Acquisition Date”), MetLife, Inc. completed the acquisition of American Life Insurance Company from AM Holdings LLC (formerly known as ALICO Holdings LLC) (“AM Holdings”), a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”), and Delaware American Life Insurance Company from AIG (the “Acquisition”). In connection with the financing of the Acquisition, in August 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued 86,250,000 new shares of its Common Stock and, on the Acquisition Date, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings 78,239,712 new shares of its Common Stock and 6,857,000 shares of its Series B contingent convertible junior participating non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock (the “Convertible Preferred Stock”) convertible into approximately 68,570,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to anti-dilution adjustments) upon a favorable vote of MetLife, Inc.'s common stockholders. On March 8, 2011, AM Holdings sold the 78,239,712 shares of Common Stock in a public offering concurrent with a public offering by MetLife, Inc. of 68,570,000 new shares of its Common Stock, the proceeds of which were used to repurchase and cancel all of the Convertible Preferred Stock.

The number of Trust Shares declined to 212,891,322 as a result of withdrawals by Beneficiaries of Trust Shares, transactions by Beneficiaries under the Purchase and Sale Program and escheatment of unclaimed Trust Shares. The percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock owned by the Trust at December 31, 2011 decreased to 20.1% as a result of these withdrawals, transactions and escheatments, as well as due to the Common Stock issuances by MetLife, Inc. described above.

Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust is eligible to be terminated at MetLife, Inc.'s discretion, as the Trust Shares constitute less than 25% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. MetLife, Inc. has advised the Trustee that it currently has no intention of voluntarily terminating the Trust. Additionally, the Trust will terminate on the first to occur of (i) the 90th day after the date on which the Trustee shall have received notice from MetLife, Inc. that the number of Trust Shares held by the Trust is equal to 10% or less of the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) the date on which the last Trust Share shall have been withdrawn, distributed or exchanged.

Equity Securities

Equity securities are reported at their estimated fair value based on the quoted prices in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. As such, these securities are categorized as Level 1 in three-level fair value hierarchy in accordance with fair value measurement guidance. Unrealized investment gains and losses on securities are recorded in the Statements of Operations. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on a first-in first-out basis.

The Trust Agreement provides that regular cash dividends, if any, collected or received by the Trustee with respect to the Trust Shares shall be distributed by the Custodian semi-annually to the Beneficiaries within 90 days after receipt by the Trustee. Distributions of all other cash dividends shall be made by the Custodian to the Beneficiaries on the first business day following the 30th day after the Trust receives the dividends. Alternatively, the Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee may arrange with MetLife, Inc. for the direct payment by MetLife, Inc. of such cash dividends to the Beneficiaries. Historically, MetLife, Inc. has used the latter method. See “— Receivable from MetLife, Inc. and Dividends Payable to Trust Beneficiaries.” All security transactions are recorded on a trade date basis.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Trust considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Receivable from MetLife, Inc. and Dividends Payable to Trust Beneficiaries.

In accordance with the Trust Agreement, MetLife, Inc. distributes cash dividends directly to the Beneficiaries at the same time as the payment of dividends to MetLife, Inc.'s stockholders. In the event that dividends are undeliverable to the Beneficiaries, MetLife, Inc. retains such dividends until they are claimed by such Beneficiaries or escheated in accordance with applicable state law. Cash dividends that have been declared but are undeliverable to the Beneficiaries and the cash amounts of dividend checks that have not been cashed by the Beneficiaries have been recorded as a receivable from MetLife, Inc. and a liability of the Trust to such Beneficiaries.

Income Taxes

As a qualified regulated trust, the Trust is not subject to income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its taxable income during each fiscal year.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

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