diff --git a/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
index 1d37befeb..71d7818e6 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/soft_validations.rb
@@ -290,12 +290,7 @@ private
   def at_least_one_person_working_situation_is_illness?
     return unless hhmemb
 
-    person_count = hhmemb || 8
-
-    (1..person_count).any? do |n|
-      ecstat = public_send("ecstat#{n}")
-      ecstat == 8
-    end
+    (1..hhmemb).any? { |n| public_send("ecstat#{n}") == 8 }
   end
 
   def no_one_in_household_with_illness?