[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR3.61]

[Page 273]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
PART 3_DEBT MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart C_Salary Offset
 
Sec. 3.61  Written agreement to repay debt as alternative to salary offset.

    (a) Notification by employee. The employee may propose, in response 
to a Notice of Intent, a written agreement to repay the debt as an 
alternative to salary offset. Any employee who wishes to do this must 
submit a proposed written agreement to repay the debt which is received 
by the Secretary within 30 calendar days of the date of the Notice of 
Intent.
    (b) Secretary's response. The Secretary will notify the employee 
whether the employee's prosposed written agreement for repayment is 
acceptable. The Secretary may accept a repayment agreement instead of 
proceeding by offset. In making this determination, the Secretary will 
balance the Department's interest in collecting the debt against 
hardship to the employee. If the debt is delinquent and the employee has 
not disputed its existence or amount, the Secretary will accept a 
repayment agreement, instead of offset, for good cause such as, if the 
employee is able to establish that offset would result in undue 
financial hardship or would be against equity and good conscience.