Appellant Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Employees’ Compensation determined that appellant White, an employee of appellee D.C. Transit System, incurred temporary total disability arising out of and in the course of his employment. Appellee employer sought review of the compensation order made under the Longshoreman’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 1 on the ground that the disability was less than total, but it did not cross-appeal from the District Court ruling that the disability determination was supported by the record. Upon learning that appellant White had, as a result of his injury, retired from his job and was drawing monies pursuant to a pension system to which both he and D.C. Transit System had contributed, the District Court sua sponte ordered that the compensation award be reduced by the amount of such payments. We reverse and remand with directions to enter judgment for appellants.

By holding that pension payments supplant compensation benefits the District Court has permitted that retirement agreement to work a waiver of statutory rights. We think this is contrary to Section 15 of the Compensation Act, which makes invalid any agreement that requires an employee to contribute to a fund maintained “for the purpose of providing compensation” or by which an employee is made to “waive his right to compensation.” 2

No action was begun or could have been successfully maintained to discontinue or refund pension payments. The pension plan expressly provides:

Allowances are in addition to any other income which an employee may have, especially in addition to any benefits provided under the Social Security Act, and any benefits received under workmen’s compensation.

Plainly the parties contracted for retirement benefits payable over and above compensation awards under the statute.

Reversed.