We are also providing for further increases of €7.70 per week for contributory pensioners, qualified adults aged 66 and over, with proportionate amounts for those on reduced payments. A pensioner couple on a full social welfare payment will therefore get an increase of €17.70 per week. The qualified adult allowance for a person over 66 has risen from 72% of the old age contributory pension in 1997 to 77% in 2003 and now represents 84% of the old age non-contributory pension. As promised in the programme for Government this will be increased in the coming years to the full old age non-contributory pension rate to benefit women in the home who do not qualify in their own right for the contributory pension.