Dividend Restrictions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
Dividend Restrictions
Dividend Restrictions	13. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS The individual law of all states, including New Hampshire, Michigan and Massachusetts, restrict the payment of dividends to stockholders by insurers. These laws affect the dividend paying ability of Hanover Insurance and Citizens, and prior to its sale in January 2009, FAFLIC. Pursuant to New Hampshire's statute, the maximum dividends and other distributions that an insurer may pay in any twelve month period, without prior approval of the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner, is limited to 10% of such insurer's statutory policyholder surplus as of the preceding December 31. Hanover Insurance declared dividends to its parent totaling $75.0 million, $153.7 million, and $166.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Hanover Insurance can pay additional dividends to its parent without prior approval of $98.7 million until December 2011. If no dividends are declared prior to December 2011, the maximum dividend payable without prior approval would increase at that time to $174.3 million. Pursuant to Michigan's statute, the maximum dividends and other distributions that an insurer may pay in any twelve month period, without prior approval of the Michigan Insurance Commissioner, is limited to the greater of 10% of policyholders' surplus as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year or the statutory net income less net realized gains, for the immediately preceding calendar year. Citizens declared dividends to its parent, Hanover Insurance, totaling $70.0 million, $72.0 million and $116.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Citizens cannot pay a further dividend to its parent without prior approval until July 2011, at which time the maximum dividend payable without prior approval would be $69.8 million. In connection with the sale of FAFLIC to Commonwealth Annuity, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance approved a pre-close net dividend from FAFLIC consisting of designated assets with a statutory book value of $130.0 million. This dividend was paid January 2, 2009. Prior to the sale of FAFLIC to Commonwealth Annuity, FAFLIC had no statutory unassigned funds, and therefore could not pay dividends without prior approval from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance. In January 2008, with permission from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance, FAFLIC declared a dividend of $17.0 million to its parent, THG.

13. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

The individual law of all states, including New Hampshire, Michigan and Massachusetts, restrict the payment of dividends to stockholders by insurers. These laws affect the dividend paying ability of Hanover Insurance and Citizens, and prior to its sale in January 2009, FAFLIC.

Pursuant to New Hampshire's statute, the maximum dividends and other distributions that an insurer may pay in any twelve month period, without prior approval of the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner, is limited to 10% of such insurer's statutory policyholder surplus as of the preceding December 31. Hanover Insurance declared dividends to its parent totaling $75.0 million, $153.7 million, and $166.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Hanover Insurance can pay additional dividends to its parent without prior approval of $98.7 million until December 2011. If no dividends are declared prior to December 2011, the maximum dividend payable without prior approval would increase at that time to $174.3 million.

Pursuant to Michigan's statute, the maximum dividends and other distributions that an insurer may pay in any twelve month period, without prior approval of the Michigan Insurance Commissioner, is limited to the greater of 10% of policyholders' surplus as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year or the statutory net income less net realized gains, for the immediately preceding calendar year. Citizens declared dividends to its parent, Hanover Insurance, totaling $70.0 million, $72.0 million and $116.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Citizens cannot pay a further dividend to its parent without prior approval until July 2011, at which time the maximum dividend payable without prior approval would be $69.8 million.

In connection with the sale of FAFLIC to Commonwealth Annuity, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance approved a pre-close net dividend from FAFLIC consisting of designated assets with a statutory book value of $130.0 million. This dividend was paid January 2, 2009. Prior to the sale of FAFLIC to Commonwealth Annuity, FAFLIC had no statutory unassigned funds, and therefore could not pay dividends without prior approval from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance. In January 2008, with permission from the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance, FAFLIC declared a dividend of $17.0 million to its parent, THG.