Residence for pensioners - any experiences please?

A family member is trying to get residence as a pensioner. She has the type D visa, a statement from her pension provider stamped by the FCO, a rental agreement here and a bank account with money in it. She went to the immigration office yesterday to apply for a lichna karta, armed with all that and a competent translator. Upshot was that she has to show that her pension is being paid to her Bulgarian bank account. The irony of having her pension paid to a Bulgarian bank account on the off-chance that she might get a residence permit here was lost on the immigration clerk.
It will probably turn out alright in the end. These things usually do if you turn up often enough and smile sweetly. But we would be interested to hear from anyone who has successfully negotiated the award of a pensioner's licha karta or who can cast any light on the subject.

make sure the pension statement has been stamped and signed by the appropriate agency (IE, government, MOD etc) and some places want the pension apostilled so they know it is legal. That was the immigration chief in dobrich but don't know if it was really needed or him just being arsy

good luck

Thanks for that Russy. We have now had that done by the foreign ministry here. Still trying to find a work-around the impossible demand for proof that the pension is already being paid to a bank here. Beers all round when we crack it!