1) There is no dead month for requalification. It is only when you go up a level there is a dead month.
2) Status upgrade vouchers only become available at the start of the new membership year.
Eg if you are gold now and membership year is August to July, then your requalification period is July 2010 to June 2011 (note 1 month offset) and if you requalify (without earning gold elite in the meantime) new status upgrades will become available August 2011. There is no dead month since the month of July 2011 contributes to the next qualification period.