Tax Return Rejected: Need Form 8862 for EIC After Previous Disallowance

This is the third time my return has been rejected and I have no clue what's going on. The IRS website doesn't give any clear explanation just says rejected, but I finally found the actual error message in the tax software I'm using. The rejection notice specifically says: "Description of error: Form 8862 must be present in the return with Earned Income Credit Claimed Indicator checked. The e-File database indicates the taxpayer must file Form 8862 to claim Earned Income Credit after disallowance." Under "What needs to be done" it states: "If your Earned Income Credit was disallowed after 1996 but later restored, you'll need to complete Form 8862 to claim it again." I double checked all my personal info and everything else is correct, but I'm confused about this Form 8862 requirement. I did have issues with my EIC a couple years ago, but I thought that was resolved. Do I really need to fill out this additional form? The "Live Tax Advice" section in my software is suggesting we need to take a closer look at my return, but I'm not sure if I should pay for that service. Has anyone else dealt with this specific EIC rejection issue? I'm trying to avoid paying for professional help if possible, but this is getting frustrating after three rejections.