Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The National Security Group, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: National Security Insurance Company (NSIC), National Security Fire and Casualty Company (NSFC) and NATSCO, Inc. (NATSCO). NSFC includes a wholly-owned subsidiary - Omega One Insurance Company (Omega). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Certain 2011 amounts have been reclassified from the prior year to conform to the 2012 presentation. The financial information presented herein should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which includes information and disclosures not presented herein. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Among the more significant estimates included in these financial statements are reserves for future policy benefits, liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance recoverable asset on associated loss and loss adjustment expense liabilities, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, assessments of other-than-temporary impairments on investments and accruals for contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Presentation of Comprehensive Income In June and December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance amending the presentation of comprehensive income and its components. Under the new guidance, a reporting entity has the option to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2012. The Company opted to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein reflect the adoption of this updated guidance. The new guidance affects presentation only and therefore had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance modifying the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts. The guidance specifies that the costs must be directly related to the successful acquisition of insurance contracts. The guidance also specifies that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") only when the direct-response advertising accounting criteria are met. Under the new guidance, only acquisition costs associated with "successful sales" are allowed to be deferred. Successful sales ratios will be reviewed quarterly and the new guidance will reduce the amount of acquisition cost that can be deferred to future periods. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2012. Amendments to Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and amends certain fair value measurement principles, requirements and disclosures. The guidance is to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2012 had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. The expanded disclosures required by this guidance are included in Note 9. Accounting Changes Not Yet Adopted Intangibles-Goodwill and Other In July 2012, the FASB issued guidance related to impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill. The new guidance will allow an entity to first make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative impairment test. An entity is required to perform the quantitative test only if it determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. We are currently evaluating the impact of this revised guidance on our financial statements. However, we do not expect a material effect on our results of operations or financial position upon adoption in 2013. Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities for Financial Instruments and Derivative Instruments In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures, including both gross and net information, for financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in the reporting entity's financial statements or those that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and is to be applied retrospectively. The new guidance affects disclosures only and will have no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The National Security Group, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: National Security Insurance Company (NSIC), National Security Fire and Casualty Company (NSFC) and NATSCO, Inc. (NATSCO). NSFC includes a wholly-owned subsidiary - Omega One Insurance Company (Omega). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Certain 2011 amounts have been reclassified from the prior year to conform to the 2012 presentation. The financial information presented herein should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which includes information and disclosures not presented herein.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Among the more significant estimates included in these financial statements are reserves for future policy benefits, liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses, reinsurance recoverable asset on associated loss and loss adjustment expense liabilities, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, assessments of other-than-temporary impairments on investments and accruals for contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June and December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued guidance amending the presentation of comprehensive income and its components. Under the new guidance, a reporting entity has the option to present comprehensive income in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2012. The Company opted to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein reflect the adoption of this updated guidance. The new guidance affects presentation only and therefore had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance modifying the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts. The guidance specifies that the costs must be directly related to the successful acquisition of insurance contracts. The guidance also specifies that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs ("DAC") only when the direct-response advertising accounting criteria are met. Under the new guidance, only acquisition costs associated with "successful sales" are allowed to be deferred. Successful sales ratios will be reviewed quarterly and the new guidance will reduce the amount of acquisition cost that can be deferred to future periods. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2012.

Amendments to Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and amends certain fair value measurement principles, requirements and disclosures. The guidance is to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2012 had no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. The expanded disclosures required by this guidance are included in Note 9.

Accounting Changes Not Yet Adopted

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other

In July 2012, the FASB issued guidance related to impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill. The new guidance will allow an entity to first make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative impairment test. An entity is required to perform the quantitative test only if it determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. We are currently evaluating the impact of this revised guidance on our financial statements. However, we do not expect a material effect on our results of operations or financial position upon adoption in 2013.

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities for Financial Instruments and Derivative Instruments

In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures, including both gross and net information, for financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either offset in the reporting entity's financial statements or those that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and is to be applied retrospectively. The new guidance affects disclosures only and will have no impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.