(1) The department will send interested parties a notice when the department has a question of whether an employee is qualified for benefits prior to making a determination on the claim. The notice will include:

(a) The department's questions regarding the employee's qualification for benefits; and

(b) The date by which the interested parties must respond. This date will be no earlier than ten calendar days from the date the notice is sent. Reasonable mailing time will be added when the notice is sent via postal service. 

(2) The employee has a right to respond to the department on qualification issues.