<P> The Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the G.I. Bill, was a law that provided a range of benefits for returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I.s). It was designed by the American Legion, who helped push it through Congress by mobilizing its chapters (along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars); the goal was to provide immediate rewards for practically all World War II veterans . </P> <P> The act avoided the highly disputed postponed life insurance policy payout for World War I veterans that caused political turmoil for a decade and a half after that war . Benefits included dedicated payments of tuition and living expenses to attend high school, college or vocational / technical school, low - cost mortgages, low - interest loans to start a business, as well as one year of unemployment compensation . It was available to all veterans who had been on active duty during the war years for at least 90 days and had not been dishonorably discharged--exposure to combat was not required . The recipients did not pay any income tax on the G.I. benefits, since they were not considered earned income . </P> <P> By 1956, roughly 7.8 million veterans had used the G.I. Bill education benefits, some 2.2 million to attend colleges or universities and an additional 5.6 million for some kind of training program . </P>

What did the gi bill provide for returning veterans