The Northern Ireland Executive has demanded a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reinforce the perilous position of Stormont's budget.
Ministers made the demand after announcing a scheme to help people with home heating oil.
They said without another significant financial package from Westminster there would be a huge impact on public services.
Earlier, the Executive agreed a £36.2m package to support 340,000 homes with a household income of less than £30,000.
Those eligible will be given one-off payment of £100.
It will be rolled out in the form of a pre-paid fuel card redeemable at oil distributors.
It will be several months before people will begin to receive the money.
'Breaking point'
At a news conference this afternoon, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the wider budget picture was "stark" and things were "very much at breaking point".
She said the Executive wanted to meet the British Prime Minister to impress on him the need for additional support.
"We, as an executive today, decided that we want to meet with Keir Starmer.
"We're making a direct appeal to the British prime minister to meet with us in a cross-party delegation, because the budget realities that we face are so challenging and so dire and so difficult that he needs to listen to the concerns that all of us are expressing on behalf of the people that we collectively serve," Ms O'Neill said.
'People cannot wait'
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that the people of Northern Ireland "cannot wait".
She said the Executive had decided to call on the British Prime Minister "to act and to act now", because the UK Government has "the tools, it has the responsibility, and this is the moment to use both".
"Our message to the Prime Minister is simple: this cannot wait. People cannot wait," she said.
"We need a comprehensive package of support, and we need it now, because behind every statistic is a family and behind every decision we make (there) must be a determination to stand with them."
The executive is trying to agree a three-year budget at present.
But several large departments such as health and education are under real pressure over spending.
Northern Secretary Hillary Benn has repeatedly described Stormont's budget settlement as generous.
He has said if the Executive want more cash they could use revenue raising mechanisms such as raising tuition fees and introducing water charges.
Executive ministers say that won't even come close to addressing the financial need.
Additional reporting: PA
