Provided several possible benefits for World War II veterans, such as post-secondary educational opportunities tuition-free and unemployment insurance for up to a year.

The Veterans Administration (VA) was responsible enacting the law’s key provisions: 1

1. Education and training

   • The GI Bill gave service members who wished to continue their education in college or vocation school could do so tuition-free up to $500 while also receiving a cost of living stipend. By 1947, 49 percent of all college admissions were veterans. 2

2. Loan guarantees for homes, farms or businesses

   • The government guaranteed loans for veterans who borrowed money to purchase a home, business or farm. These loans help the “middle class suburban” lifestyle.. 2

3. Unemployment pay

   • The bill provided $20 a week in unemployment benefit for up to one year for veterans looking for work. The program also provided access to job counseling. 2

4. Health Insurance

   • Medical care for veterans was also provided in the GI Bill. Additional hospitals were established for veterans and the Veterans Administration took over all veteran-related concerns. 2

By 1956, almost 10 million veterans had received GI Bill benefits. Although the GI Bill technically extended benefits to all veterans regardless of gender or race, in many cases benefits were administered by an all-white Veterans Administration at the state and local level which in many cases would either outright reject access to African-Americans from the program or steer them to menial jobs. 2

For the full text of the bill, see here.

Endnotes

1. https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/history.asp

2. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/gi-bill