(a) To request a hearing concerning the existence or amount of the debt or the offset schedule established by the Agency, the employee must send a written petition to the office designated in the notice of intent to offset, see § 814.5(a)(9), within 15 days of receipt of the deduction notice, stating why the employee believes the determination of the Agency concerning the existence or amount of the debt is in error or requesting changes to the proposed deduction frequency and amount.

(b) The petition must:

(1) Be signed by the employee;

(2) Fully identify and explain with reasonable specificity all the facts, evidence, and witnesses, if any, that the employee believes support the employee's position; and

(3) Specify whether an oral or paper (documentary) hearing is requested. If an oral hearing is requested, the request should explain why the matter cannot be resolved by review of the documentary evidence alone.