General	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
General
General	1. General Basis of presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), a property-liability insurance company with various property-liability and life and investment subsidiaries, including Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) (collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Allstate”). The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2013 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Adopted accounting standards Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities In December 2011 and January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures, including both gross and net information, for derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions 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 Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2013. The new guidance affects disclosures only and therefore had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position. Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. The guidance requires the presentation of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by income statement line item but only if the amount reclassified is required under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts is required. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2013. The new guidance affects disclosures only and therefore had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

1. General

Basis of presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Allstate Corporation (the “Corporation”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily Allstate Insurance Company (“AIC”), a property-liability insurance company with various property-liability and life and investment subsidiaries, including Allstate Life Insurance Company (“ALIC”) (collectively referred to as the “Company” or “Allstate”).

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30, 2013 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Adopted accounting standards

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In December 2011 and January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures, including both gross and net information, for derivatives, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending transactions 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 Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2013. The new guidance affects disclosures only and therefore had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance requiring expanded disclosures about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. The guidance requires the presentation of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by income statement line item but only if the amount reclassified is required under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts is required. The Company adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of 2013. The new guidance affects disclosures only and therefore had no impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.