This article introduces the concept of democratic forums as a tool for studying public attitudes towards the welfare state. It compares this method to traditional approaches and highlights its strengths and weaknesses. Using a 2015 UK-based forum as a case study, the findings reveal two major perspectives on the welfare state: one critiquing its inefficiencies and sustainability, and the other advocating for improvements through social investment in training and education. The article argues that democratic forums offer unique insights into public conceptual framings of welfare state issues, which may differ from those used by policymakers and academics in conventional surveys.