LANSING — Thousands of Michiganders involved in welfare cases could lose benefits under a new bill that has been sent to Gov. Rick Snyder to sign. 

The bill will impose a stricter, four-year lifetime limit on benefits which means that around 12,000 families could stop getting them as of October 1. The measure passed in the Republican-led House by a tally of 73-34 on Wednesday, mostly along party lines.