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Fair Value Measurements (Quantitative Information of Our Financial Assets and Liabilities That Were Disclosed at Fair Value) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities $ 318,137us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities $ 392,879us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
Notes payable 379,297us-gaap_LongTermDebt 392,414us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 333,961us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
416,981us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Notes payable 404,270us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
354,010us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Notes payable 185,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
146,298us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 333,961us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
416,981us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Notes payable 219,270us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
207,712us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Foreign Government [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 5,394us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
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5,591us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Foreign Government [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Foreign Government [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 5,394us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
5,591us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Foreign Government [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 299,132us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
369,756us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 299,132us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
369,756us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Obligations of States and Political Subdivisions [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
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= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Corporate Securities [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 21,422us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
30,274us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Corporate Securities [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Corporate Securities [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 21,422us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
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= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
30,274us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Corporate Securities [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 2,823us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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3,415us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 2,823us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
3,415us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 5,190us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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7,945us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 5,190us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
7,945us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities (CMBS) [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Held-to-maturity Securities 0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
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0us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
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Two Point Ninety Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable   13,319us-gaap_LongTermDebt
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= sigi_TwoPointNinetyPercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
Two Point Ninety Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable   0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_TwoPointNinetyPercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
Two Point Ninety Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable   13,319us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_TwoPointNinetyPercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
Two Point Ninety Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable   0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_TwoPointNinetyPercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
One Point Twenty Five Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 45,244us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
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45,259us-gaap_LongTermDebt
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
One Point Twenty Five Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
One Point Twenty Five Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 45,244us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
45,259us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
One Point Twenty Five Percent Borrowing From Federal Home Loan Bank [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_OnePointTwentyFivePercentBorrowingFromFederalHomeLoanBankMember
Seven Point Twenty Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 59,181us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
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50,887us-gaap_LongTermDebt
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Seven Point Twenty Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Seven Point Twenty Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 59,181us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
50,887us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Seven Point Twenty Five Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SevenPointTwentyFivePercentSeniorNotesMember
Six Point Seventy Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 114,845us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
98,247us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
Six Point Seventy Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
Six Point Seventy Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 114,845us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
98,247us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
Six Point Seventy Percent Senior Notes [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
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0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_SixPointSeventyPercentSeniorNotesMember
Five Point Eight Hundred Seventy Five [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 185,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
146,298us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
Five Point Eight Hundred Seventy Five [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 185,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
146,298us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
Five Point Eight Hundred Seventy Five [Member] | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
Five Point Eight Hundred Seventy Five [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Notes payable $ 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember
$ 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= sigi_FivePointEightHundredSeventyFiveMember