Six life insurance companies, including Lincoln Financial and The Hartford, are among those about to receive billions of federal dollars through the U.S. Treasury‘s Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Funding will come from the program’s Capital Purchase Program, a voluntary program to encourage financial institutions to build capital to increase the flow of financing to businesses and consumers in an effort to support the U.S. economy.

Both The Hartford and Lincoln Financial have confirmed their participation in the program, and various media reports identify the other four insurers as Prudential Financial, Allstate Corp., Principal Financial Group and Ameriprise Financial.

Philadelphia-based Lincoln Financial said it received preliminary approval to receive $2.5 billion through the CPP.

Dennis R. Glass, the insurer’s president and CEO, said over the last several months, Lincoln Financial has been “actively and prudently taking measures to strengthen our liquidity and capital positions at both the holding company and our insurance subsidiaries.”

“Consistent with that goal, access to the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program is a means to further enhance the company’s financial flexibility and capital in what has continued to be an unprecedented economic environment,” Glass said in a statement. “We appreciate this preliminary approval for inclusion in the CPP program, subject to a final review of its terms and conditions.”

He added that Lincoln Financial is “pleased” the U.S. Treasury recognizes the “critical role that insurers play in providing liquidity to the financial system and that it is willing to act in a manner that will strengthen the balance sheets of the nation’s insurers.”

The Hartford said it has preliminary approval for $3.4 billion in the CPP, with Ramani Ayer, chairman and CEO of the Connecticut-based insurer calling application for the funds “a prudent step” for his company, “particularly given the continued economic uncertainty.”

“These funds would further fortify our capital resources and provide us with additional financial flexibility during one of the most volatile market climates in our nation’s history,” he said in a statement.

Both The Hartford and Lincoln Financial were among several life insurers last year to acquire savings and loan institutions in order to qualify for TARP funding.

In April, New York-based MetLife said it would not participate in the CPP after taking steps to strengthen its financial standing and Richmond, Va.-based Genworth Financial announced it would not receive funding from the government as a deadline for the government to review the application to become a savings and loan passed.