Raymond CORRAO, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Donna E. SHALALA, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Defendant-Appellee

Raymond Corrao appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the “Secretary”), who found that Cor-rao is not entitled to supplemental security income. We reverse.

BACKGROUND

Raymond Corrao was born on March 16, 1938. He has a tenth grade education. On April 5, 1989, Corrao applied for supplemental security income (“SSI”), alleging disability due to mental illness, drug dependency, and lack of energy. Corrao’s application indicates that his disabling condition began in 1950 and that this condition made him stop working in 1972.

Corrao’s application was initially denied and was brought before an ALJ. At the hearing, Corrao testified that he uses Vk grams of heroin on a daily basis and that he has used heroin for thirty-five years. He drinks several six packs of beer and a half pint of whisky daily. He has lost consciousness on many occasions and has lost jobs due • to his drug and alcohol problem. Corrao leaves his home daily to go to the methadone treatment clinic, where he is tested for drug usage. Although he would be permitted to take methadone home if he tested clean for drugs, he has never tested…