<p>The answer to your question is that becoming independent is not likely to increase your aid for this year. If you already receive a full Pell grant, that’s the most you can get. Schools generally award all of their own grant money and federal SEOG to those who file by the school’s priority deadline - meaning money for this year is gone by now. If you don’t get loans at the independent level already (due to parent PLUS denial), you would be eligible for the additional loan money independent students can receive ($4000/year freshman and sophomore, $5000/year junior and senior). When you change filing status (from dependent to independent) during the course of the year, you will most likely be asked to prove your independent status (for you, that means proving you have the means to provide at least 51% of your child’s support). Talk to the school’s financial aid office.</p>