Federal Income Taxes (Federal Income Tax Asset Liability) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Federal income tax asset (liability) [Abstract]
Current	$ (134)lnc_CurrentTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	$ (186)lnc_CurrentTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Deferred	(3,024)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	(1,966)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Total federal income tax asset (liability)	$ (3,158)lnc_IncomeTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	$ (2,152)lnc_IncomeTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant