Hunter workers are now eligible for $320 test-and-isolate payments from the NSW government.

The scheme to compensate people for missing work while awaiting test results was introduced in the 12 Sydney local government areas of concern in early August.

The government has now expanded the payments to the rest of NSW from today.

The scheme is especially valuable to casual employees forced to miss shifts due to post-test isolation requirements.

To be eligible, workers must be 17 years old and likely to have missed work while isolating or caring for someone else who is isolating.

The payments are not available to anyone able to work from home during isolation, receiving income during isolation via salary or sick leave or receiving government support such as COVID disaster payments.

Anyone directed by NSW Health to test and isolate as a close contact of a known case is also not eligible for the payments.

Workers must apply for the payment within seven days of having a test.